MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND THEIR VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
Assessment of a patient starts when ______ the
patient and initial communication adds more
information
visually observing
what is our first objective for a musculoskeletal
exam?
are we the appropriate provider for the patient
what is the order we do things in for a
musculoskeletal exam?
Listen -> look -> palpate
(we may initially look during general observation)
what are the elements of patient examination?
-patient history
-review of systems
-systems review
-tests/measures
-clinical impression/judgement
-plan of care
which element of patient examination does this
describe:
-chief complaint (history of present illness)
-mechanism of injury
-reason for PT
, -SINSS
-onset for illness
patient history
What does SINSS stand for?
severity, irritability, nature, stage, stability
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-NPRS, VAS, Functional limitation
-does high severity correlate with decreased function?
-pain levels
severity
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-intensity of activity required to provoke symptoms?
-how long do symptoms last? how quickly do
symptoms abate?
irritability
(think low stimuli, high and long response for very irritable)
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-specific diagnosis and associated impairments
nature
ex. LBP with radiating pain and impaired gait with altered
balance
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-temporal (acute, subacute, chronic)
stage
what is something we should consider with patient
history?
pattern of symptoms ie
-aggravating/relieving postures or activities
-changes in symptom presentation (worse throughout the
day, night pain, etc)
-pain descriptors (generic = VAS or region specific =
QUESTIONS AND THEIR VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
Assessment of a patient starts when ______ the
patient and initial communication adds more
information
visually observing
what is our first objective for a musculoskeletal
exam?
are we the appropriate provider for the patient
what is the order we do things in for a
musculoskeletal exam?
Listen -> look -> palpate
(we may initially look during general observation)
what are the elements of patient examination?
-patient history
-review of systems
-systems review
-tests/measures
-clinical impression/judgement
-plan of care
which element of patient examination does this
describe:
-chief complaint (history of present illness)
-mechanism of injury
-reason for PT
, -SINSS
-onset for illness
patient history
What does SINSS stand for?
severity, irritability, nature, stage, stability
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-NPRS, VAS, Functional limitation
-does high severity correlate with decreased function?
-pain levels
severity
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-intensity of activity required to provoke symptoms?
-how long do symptoms last? how quickly do
symptoms abate?
irritability
(think low stimuli, high and long response for very irritable)
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-specific diagnosis and associated impairments
nature
ex. LBP with radiating pain and impaired gait with altered
balance
which part of SINSS does this describe:
-temporal (acute, subacute, chronic)
stage
what is something we should consider with patient
history?
pattern of symptoms ie
-aggravating/relieving postures or activities
-changes in symptom presentation (worse throughout the
day, night pain, etc)
-pain descriptors (generic = VAS or region specific =
