Upper Musculoskeletal Exam

Question 1

General Inspection

Answer 1

Inspect skin and subcutaneous tissue for: color, swelling, rashes and masses. Observe for overall
size, gross deformity, bony enlargement, alignment, contour and symmetry of length and position

Question 2

Shoulder (Palpation)

Answer 2

Palpate:

• Clavicle
• A-C joint
• Sub-acromial bursa
• Coracoid process
• Deltoid muscle insertion

Question 3

Shoulder (ROM)

Answer 3

Place hands on shoulder to detect crepitus

• Flexion/extension
• Abduction/adduction
• Internal/external rotation

Question 4

Shoulder (Tests)

Answer 4

• Neer’s Impingement Test
• Supraspinatus Strength Test
• Biceps: Elbow flexion and supination

Question 5

Elbow (Palpation)

Answer 5

Palpate: the surface location of the medial and lateral epicondyles, the radial head, the olecranon process, and the olecranon bursa

Question 6

Elbow (ROM)

Answer 6

• Flexion/extension

- Pronation/supination

Question 7

Elbow (Tests)

Answer 7

• Tinel’s test
• Forced wrist extension
• Grip test

Question 8

Hands and Wrists (Palpation)

Answer 8

Palpate:

• Surface location of radial and ulnar styloid processes
• Thumb abductor tendons
• Anatomical snuff box
• Sensation, palpate for thenar muscle mass

Question 9

Hands and Wrists (ROM)

Answer 9

• Wrist flexion/extension
• Radial and ulnar deviation
• Metacarpophalangeal flexion/extension
• PIP and DIP flexion/extension
• Finger abduction/adduction
• Thumb opposition, flexion, extension, abduction, adduction
• Form a fist

Question 10

Hands and Wrists (Tests)

Answer 10

• Tinel’s sign

- Phalen’s sign