MSK subjective assessment

Question 1

What is my subjective assessment order

Always stick to this order and know it off by heart

Answer 1

• drug history and PMH
• HPC
• body chart and symptoms
• 24 hour pattern - aggs and eases
• red flags
• Social history
• goals
• must / should/ could

Question 2

What is the acronym for past medical history?

Answer 2

THREADSOC

Fractures
T= Thyroid
H= Heart failure
R= Rheumatoid arthritis
E= epilepsy
A= asthma
D= diabetes
S= steroids
O= osteoporosis
C= cancer

Question 3

What is an acronym for History of present condition?

Answer 3

WHIP

when? How ? Intervention to date? Pattern since onset?

Question 4

Cervical spine = special questions

1. What are the 5Ds and the 3Ns ?
2. CVA and CVR risks
3. Neurology

Answer 4

1. Dizziness, Diplopia (double vision), dysarthria (slurred speech) , drop attacks (falling to floor) and dsyphagia (difficulty swallowing) numbness, nystagmus (dancing eyes) and nausea.
2. Smoking, Diabetes, hypertension, anti coagulants.
3. Weaknesses, sensation, dropping things, clumsy hands, balance, co-ordination, lower limb issues and gait disturbance

Question 5

Lumbar spine special questions?

Answer 5

Urinary retention
saddle anaesthesia or paranaesthesia
gait disturbance or lower limb weakness
foecal incontinence
sexual dysfunction

Question 6

Knee special questions?

Answer 6

1. Is the knee locking (people with meniscus)
2. Clicking (people with meniscus or PFJ pain)
3. Knee Giving way (indicate a ligament injury)
4. Pop (ACL injury)
5. Swelling (ligament issue swelling happens very quickly)

Question 7

Nonspecific special questions?

Answer 7

1. Night pain
2. Previous history of Cancer, drug abuse, HIV, steroids.
3. systematically unwell (fatigue and weight loss)
4. Neuro changes
5. Thoracic pain.
6. constant progressive non- mechanical symptoms
7. Under 20 or over 55