Perform the joint examination?

How to perform the joint examination?

Basics principles of Joint Examination are mentioned as bellow-

• History Taking
• Look or Appereance
• Feel
• Move
• Special Tests related to Joints

History taking of patient is very important.Because by history taking we know the exact cause of disease

 

This includes following points like-

• History of trauma or accident
• Family history
• Any congenital Anamoly
• Personal history like smokening,alcoholism,tobacco chewing
• Nature of symptoms.
• Pain, instability, swelling
• Duration of symptoms
• Any History of arthropathy like
• Gout, rheumatoid
• Use of immunocompromise
• Steroids, diabetes

Exerbation of Arthritis

• Warm joint
• Reduced range of movement
• Afebrile
• Previous history of OA or Rheumatoid Arthritis

Look Examination contains-

• Any Scars of surgery
• Any Deformity
• Swelling over joints
• Muscle wasting
• Skin changes erythema/psoriasis/eczema
• Bone/muscle contours
• Comparison to unaffected side
• Redness of joints

Feel Examination contains

• Joint temperature whether it is warm or cold
• Effusion
• Bony prominences
• Area of tenderness along joint margin

Movement Examination cotains

• Range of movement
• Active and Passive
• Stress tests