Musculoskeletal System Flashcards
What are you looking for in inspection?
Note the size and contour or joint
Inspect skin and tissue of joints for swelling, colour, masses or deformities (presence of swelling is significant and signals joint irritation)
What are the elements of joint assessment?
Inspection Palpation Range of motion - active Range of motion - passive Muscle testing
Palpation
Palpate each joint, including its skin for temperature, it’s muscles, its bony articulations, and area of joint capsule
Note tenderness, heat, swelling or masses - normally masses are not tender; if tenderness occurs, try to localize it to specific anatomical structure (e.g., skin, muscles, bursae, ligaments, tendons, fat pads, or joint capsules);
Normally fluid in a joint is not palpable - there is a small amount of fluid in the joints
Range of motion
Test range of motion by stabilizing body area proximal to that being moved; know each type of joint and expected range of motion so you can recognize any limitations.
Attempt passive range of motion when you notice any limitations; passive range of motion should be the same as active range of motion;
Joint motion normally causes no tenderness, pain or crepitation;
Use goniometer to measure angles of limited range of motion;
Muscle testing
Test strength of prime muscle group for each joint; repeat ROM motions and ask patient to flex muscle while you apply opposing force; muscle strength should be equal bilaterally and should fully resist bilateral force
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inspection
Inspect area anterior to ear, use first two fingers and instruct patient to open and close mouth, drop fingers into depressed area over joint, note smooth motion of mandible (an audible or palpable snap or click occurs in many healthy people)
Temporomandibular joint ROM
- Open mouth maximally - vertical motion, normal range is 3-6cm between upper and lower incisors
- Partially open mouth, thrust lower jaw, and move it side to side - lateral motion, normal extent is 1-2cm
- Stick out lower jaw - protrusion with no deviation
- Clench teeth, palpate contracted temporalis and masseter muscles, compare bilaterally for firmness, size and strength
Temporomandibular joint - muscle resistance
Move jaw forward and laterally against resistance, and open mouth against resistance
This also tests the integrity of cranial nerve 5, the trigeminal nerve
Cervical spine - inspection
Inspect alignment of head and neck; spine should be straight and head erect, palpate spinous processes and the sternomastoid, trapezius, and paravertebral muscles; should feel firm, no muscle spasm or tenderness.
Cervical spine - ROM
- Touch chin to chest - flexion of 45 degrees
- Lift chin toward ceiling - hyperextension of 55 degrees
- Move ear to corresponding shoulder (do not lift shoulder) - lateral bending of 40 degrees
- Turn chin toward each shoulder - rotation of 70 degrees
Cervical spine - muscle resistance
Repeat motion while applying opposing force; normally patient can maintain flexion against full resistance.
This also tests the integrity of cranial nerve 11, spinal nerve
Shoulders - inspection
Inspect and compare both shoulders posteriorly and anteriorly; check size and contour of joint, compare shoulders for equality of bony landmarks; normally no swelling, redness, muscular atrophy, or deformity are present; check anterior aspect of joint capsule and subacromial bursae for abnormal swelling
Shoulders - palpation
Stand in front of patient, palpate both shoulders, noting any muscular spasm or atrophy, swelling, heat or tenderness.
Start at clavicle and explore the acromioclavicular joint, scapula, greater tubercle of the humerus, area of subacromial bursa, the biceps groove, and anterior aspect of the glenohumeral joint; palpate the pyramid shaped axilla, no adenopathy or masses should be present
Shoulders - ROM
- With arms at side and elbows extended, move both arms up and in wide vertical arcs - forward flexion of 180 degrees
- Same position, move both arms back and up - hyperextension of up to 50 degrees
- Rotate arms internally behind back and place hands as high as possible towards scapulae - internal rotation of 90 degrees
- With arms at side and elbows extended, raise both arms in arcs in the coronal plane, touching palms above head - abduction of 180 degrees
- Bring extended arm across torso - adduction of 50 degrees
- Touch both hands behind the head with elbows flexed and rotated posteriorly - external rotation of 90 degrees
Shoulders - muscle resistance
Test strength of shoulder muscles by asking patient to shrug shoulders, flex them forward and up, and abduct them against your resistance
Shoulder shrug tests integrity of cranial nerve 11, spinal nerve.
Elbows - inspection
Inspect size and contour of both elbows in the extended and flexed positions; look for any deformities or swelling and redness; check the Olecranon bursa and the normally present hollows on either side of the Olecranon process for abnormal swelling