Musculoskeletal Examination

The musculoskeletal examination should include assessments of strength and of active and passive range of motion and evaluation for warmth, tenderness, or swelling of joints. Irritability and pain on palpation over a bone or disuse pseudoparalysis may be the 1st clue to osteomyelitis. Musculoskeletal examination reveals tenderness, swelling, and erythema of the PIP joints bilaterally, as well as bilateral knee effusions. The musculoskeletal examination should begin with a general assessment for global or focal muscle wasting or atrophy. musculoskeletal examination is composed of several clinical tests. The basic techniques of the musculoskeletal system exam are observation, palpation, and manipulation.