Musculoskeletal Exam

Online PETA Home


General: Preparation, Inspection, Palpation

  • Patient in gown or loosely dressed
  • ALWAYS begin each joint exam with inspection for asymmetry, deformity, atrophy
  • ALWAYS compare each joint and muscle group bilaterally
  • Palpate each joint and muscle group in sequence
  • Isolate each axis when testing ROM
  • Identify 6 cardinal signs of musculoskeletal disease: pain, redness, swelling, warmth, deformity, loss of function

Neck

  • Palpate over each spinous process and paraspinous muscle groups
  • Measure ROM in 6 axes

Shoulder

  • Palpate: clavicle; A/C joint; corocoid process; scapula; glenohumeral joint; long head of biceps
  • Measure ROM in 6 axes (active and passive): abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, internal rotation, external rotation

Special Considerations: Shoulder

  • Drop arm test
  • Impingement sign

Elbow

  • Palpate: medial and lateral epicondyles of the humerus, the olecranon, the grooves between the epicondyles and the olecranon
  • Assese range of motion for flexion, extension, supination and pronation

Wrist and Hand

  • Palpate interphalangeal joints
  • Perform ROM (active and passive) of wrist, thumb, and fingers; isolating each axis of motion
  • Thumb abduction and opposition

Special Considerations: Wrist and Hand

  • Identify and test for tenderness in anatomical snuffbox
  • Profundus and Superficialis Tendon tests

Back

  • Palpate over each spinous process and paraspinous muscle group
  • Palpate sacroiliac joint
  • Measure ROM (active) in 6 axes

Special Considerations: Back

  • Straight Leg Raises Bilaterally

Hip

  • Palpate: Anterior superior iliac spine, inguinal ligament, pubic tubercle
  • Palpate: greater trochanter, ischial tuberosity
  • Measure ROM (active) in 6 axes

Special Considerations: Hip

  • "FABER" (Flexion, ABduction, External Rotation) Test Bilaterally

Knee

  • Palpate: distal femur and muscles; medial and lateral joint lines; patella and tendon; patella with movement; tibial tubercle; head of fibula; popliteal fossa

Special Considerations: Knee

  • Collateral Ligament Testing
  • Lachman's Test
  • Drawer Test
  • Major and minor effusion tests

Ankle and Foot

  • Inspect all surfaces of the foot
  • Palpate: tibiotalar joint, achilles tendon, calcaneus, plantar surface, metatarsophalangeal joints, metatarsal heads
  • ROM: Dorsiflex and plantarflex at the the tibiotalar joint, invert and evert proximally, invert and evert distally

Strength Testing Against Resistance

  • Abduct shoulder
  • Flex and extend elbow
  • Spread fingers
  • Flex hips
  • Flex and extend knee
  • Dorsiflex and plantarflex ankle

ONLINE PHYSICAL EXAM TEACHING ASSISTANT

The UF College of Medicine Harrell Center