Description
Musculoskeletal Examination is to be used as both a teaching text and a general reference on the techniques of physical examination. This volume represents the joint authoring efforts of a physiatrist, an orthopedic surgeon, and a physical therapist and presents the information in a clear and concise format, free of any professional biases that reflect one specialty’s preferences. The importance of this will be seen as we take you through each anatomical region and delineate the basic examination. Included in each chapter are the abnormalities most frequently encountered or noted while performing an examination.
The book is organized into regional anatomical sections including the spine and pelvis, the upper extremity, and the lower extremity. The book opens with two chapters that define the structures of the musculoskeletal system and discuss the basic concepts and parts of the musculoskeletal exam. A final chapter describes the examination of gait.
Each main chapter is organized in an identical manner:
overview of the anatomical region
observation of the patient
subjective examination
gentle palpation
trigger points (where applicable)
active movement testing
passive movement testing
physiological movements
mobility testing
resistive testing
neurological examination
referred pain patterns
special tests
radiological views
In Chapter 2, Basic concepts of the physical examination, we provide you with a framework for performing the examination, beginning with observation and ending with palpation. However, in each regional anatomy chapter, palpation follows observation and subjective examination and precedes all other sections. This is deliberate. For reasons of length, we felt it important to discuss each anatomical region and its own special anatomical structures as soon as possible in each chapter. This avoids repetition, gives you the anatomy early in each chapter, and then allows you to visualize each structure as you read the subsequent sections on testing. Hopefully, this will reinforce the anatomy and help you apply anatomy to function and function to the findings of your examination.
Each chapter includes a generous number of original line drawings, many of which are two-color. These provide clear snapshots of how to perform each examination technique. Thirty-two X-rays and MRIs have been included to help you with radiological anatomy. Paradigms and tables provide additional information that will help you understand the how and why of each examination technique.
By using Musculoskeletal Examination as a guide and reference, the reader will be able to perform the complete basic examination and understand common abnormalities and their pathological significance.We hope that our readers will gain an appreciation for the intimate relationship between the structure and function of the components of the musculoskeletal system. This understanding should then enable any reader to make a correct diagnosis and a successful treatment plan for each patient.