Musculoskeletal Orthopaedic Assessment
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Original Editor - Niha Mulla
Top Contributors - Niha Mulla, Oyemi Sillo, Naomi O'Reilly and Kim Jackson
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Complex clinical reasoning decisions in real time and becoming competent in patient assessment takes practice, refinement and reflection. Patient assessment is an essential skill for every student and practicing physiotherapist.
A complete musculoskeletal examination of the patients gives an over view of patients body structure and function. Musculoskeletal/orthopaedic patient assessment is a process of appropriate subjective assessment with the understanding of particular joints , with use of specific tests at those particular joints and also appropriate subjective and objective markers along with understanding the need for continuous reassessment. [1][2]
Human body is bi-laterally symmetrical. Hence during a musculoskeletal assessment each body part is compared not only to an ideal normal but also to symmetrical other side of the body in a sequential manner in order to determine abnormalities in alignment of bone/joint/muscle to other. [2][3]
Basic principles[edit | edit source]
- Upon qualifying, physiotherapist are legally responsible for performing accurate assessment and management skills.
- Physiotherapist are suppose to access the patient on first contact for their initial assessment to determine patients problem and establish line of treatment for the patient.[1]
- Reassessment of patient is mandatory in- between treatment sessions to be aware and alert of any improvement or deterioration in patient condition. [1]
- Always re-access your patient using subjective and objective markers following each treatment to judge the efficacy of each intervention to determine in short term and long term effects.[1][3]
Patient preparation[edit | edit source]
Sequence of examination[edit | edit source]
- bulleted list
- x
or
- numbered list
- x
Checklist for Musculoskeletal assessment[edit | edit source]
- bulleted list
- x
or
- numbered list
- x
Aims of subjective assessment[edit | edit source]
- bulleted list
- x
Aims of objective assessment[edit | edit source]
- bulleted list
- x
Subjective assessment[edit | edit source]
Objective assessment[edit | edit source]
Spinal assessment[edit | edit source]
Lumbar spine[edit | edit source]
Cervical spine[edit | edit source]
Peripheral joint assessment[edit | edit source]
Shoulder joint[edit | edit source]
Hip joint[edit | edit source]
Knee joint[edit | edit source]
Ankle and foot[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Stuart Porter, Lynne Gaskell at al. Tidy’s Physiotherapy, Chapter 2 “Musculoskeletal Assessment". 2003 Edition 13
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 HATHAWAY L. Pump up your musculoskeletal assessment. Nursing made incredibly easy. 2004 May 1;2(3):46-50.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thompson J, Walton A. The Musculoskeletal Screening Examination booklet. University of Western Ontario. Available from: https://rheum.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/The_Musculoskeletal_Screening_Examination_Booklet.pdf
