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