The Musculoskeletal Examination Flashcards
What are the 9 steps (in the correct order) to be followed during a musculoskeletal examination?
1 - Assess blood pressure
2 - ± Clinical examinations (e.g. neurological examination, cardiovascular examination)
3 - Observation and regional screening examination
4 - Active range of motion
5 - Passive range of motion
6 - Joint play / segmental definition
7 - ± Resisted isometric muscle testing
8 - Palpation of musculoskeletal structures
9 - ± Orthopaedic and musculoskeletal testing
Why are clinical examinations performed during a musculoskeletal examination?
Provide examples of clinical examinations of the lower limb.
To:
- determine if treatment is contraindicated
- determine if referral is necessary
- provide baseline for monitoring aspects of patient’s presenting complaint
E.g. Extremity neurological Extremity vascular Cranial nerve Cardiovascular Respiratory Abdominal
Identify the 10 steps to be followed (in the correct order) when performing an observation, regional and functional screening of the lower limb.
1 - Observation (e.g. swelling, redness, bruising) 2 - Functional movements/ADLs 3 - Gait 4 - Posture 5 - Cervical spine motion 6 - Upper extremity screen 7 - Lumbar / Thoracic motion 8 - Thoracic cage 9 - Pelvis 10 - Lower extremity screen
What are the 6 characteristics of skin to palpate and how are they tested?
1 - temperature (dorsal side of hand)
2 - thickness (roll between fingers)
3 - drag (lightly drag finger pads)
4 - vitality (gently pinch skin and watch recoil)
5 - roughness/smoothness (lightly brush fingers along skin surface)
6 - mobility (circles on superficial tissues)
What are the normal degrees of motion for hip mobility?
Flexion - 120-130 degrees
Extension - 15-20 degrees
Abduction - 40-45 degrees
Adduction - 25-30 degrees
Internal Rotation - (at 0 and 90 degrees flexion) 25-35 degrees
External Rotation - (at 0 and 90 degrees flexion) 45 degrees
What barriers are being tested during AROM and PROM? Define these barriers.
AROM - limited by physiological barrier (the normal ROM a joint moves through during everyday life)
PROM - limited by elastic barrier; point of end feel of a movement (i.e. where some resistance to movement is first felt)
Anatomical barrier - end range; ROM is limited by bone contours/ligaments within an articulation (exceeding the anatomical barrier may cause damage to tissues e.g. fracture)
Define joint play.
What structures are tested during joint play? What are you looking for when testing joint play?
A movement that is essential for normal joint functioning, that the patient cannot perform themselves.
Tests all joint structures - e.g. capsule, ligaments, joint surfaces
Identifies any pain or change in movement quality
What 3 movements of joint play are performed at the hip? Demonstrate how these are performed.
1 - circumduction
2 - traction
3 - compression
Define resisted isometric testing.
Why is resisted isometric testing performed?
The practitioner provides a force to counter the patient’s movement, however, no change in joint angle or muscle length occurs during muscle activation.
Performed with the purpose of reproducing pain/similar symptoms by applying stress to muscle belly/surrounding connective tissues/tendon/musculotendinous junction
How is muscular strength graded during R.I.T?
0 - zero = no evidence of muscle contraction
1 - trace = slight muscle contraction; no evidence of joint motion
2 - poor = complete ROM with assistance and gravity eliminated
3 - fair = active ROM = full ROM against gravity with no resistance
4 - good = full ROM against gravity with some resistance
5 - normal = full ROM against gravity with full resistance
How long should a resisted muscle test be held for? How many reps? What position should the joint be placed in?
Resistance should be applied for at least 5 seconds.
2-5 repetitions are necessary.
The joint should be placed in mid-range.
During resisted isometric testing of the hip, what muscles (and nerve roots) are activated performing the following movements: Flexion Abduction Adduction External rotation Internal rotation Extension
Flexion = L1-4
- iliopsoas
- rectus fem.
Abduction = L4-S2
- gluteus med/min/max
- TFL
Adduction = L2-4
- adductors
Ext. rot. = L5-S2
- glute max
- deep hip ERs
Int. rot. = L2-S1
- adductors
- ant glute med/min
Extension = L5-S2
- glute max
- hamstring muscle group
During palpation, what are we looking for?
Reproduction of pain/symptoms, tissue texture change (change in temp/swelling/redness) that may be associated with acute injury or inflammation.
What is an orthopaedic test?
A biomedical stress test designed to place functional stress on isolated tissue structures believed to be responsible for patient’s pain or dysfunction. Aims to reproduce symptoms in order to assist with accurate diagnosis.
What is the difference of sensitivity and specificity in orthopaedic testing?
Sensitivity = probability of patient having the condition after receiving a positive test result
Specificity = probability of patient not having the condition after receiving a negative test result
A perfect test would have 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity.