Musculoskeletal Assessment

Summary

In this transcript, Nancy, a nurse from Harper College, conducts a thorough muscular-skeletal assessment of Mr. Hoffman. The assessment covers various joints and muscles, including the temporomandibular joint, spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and feet. Nancy checks for signs of pain, abnormal movements, clicking, or weakness, while also assessing the range of motion and strength in each area. After a detailed examination, Nancy concludes that all of Mr. Hoffman's muscles and joints are in good condition with no signs of abnormality or discomfort.

Takeaways

• 😀 The assessment focuses on the muscular and skeletal system, evaluating muscles, joints, and their range of motion.
• 😀 The patient has a family history of arthritis, with their sister having rheumatoid arthritis and their mother having arthritis.
• 😀 The patient has no signs or symptoms of arthritis and reports no joint pain or limited movement.
• 😀 The assessment starts by checking the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) for clicking or crepitation, with no abnormalities noted.
• 😀 The neck's range of motion is tested, including chin to chest, looking up at the ceiling, side-to-side turns, and ear-to-shoulder motions. Strength is normal.
• 😀 The shoulder assessment includes lifting arms, rotating them, and testing strength. No pain or abnormalities are found.
• 😀 The elbows are examined for range of motion and strength. The patient exhibits normal movement and strength.
• 😀 The hands and wrists are tested for strength and flexibility, with the patient having no pain or difficulty, even with frequent computer use.
• 😀 The hip assessment involves palpation and range of motion exercises like leg movements and strength tests. No pain is reported.
• 😀 The feet and ankles are carefully palpated due to the number of bones. The patient shows normal strength and no pain in these areas.
• 😀 The knees are checked for pain or clicking, with the patient mentioning occasional clicking during bike riding but no discomfort.
• 😀 The spine is palpated for alignment, and range of motion is tested. The patient has normal curvature and movement in the spine.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the assessment in the script?

The purpose of the assessment is to evaluate the muscular and skeletal system, including the joints, muscles, and bones for any abnormalities, pain, or limited movement.

What is the significance of the Tempo mandibular joint test?

The Tempo mandibular joint test is used to check for any clicking, crepitation, or pain when the patient moves their mouth, indicating potential issues with the jaw joint.

Why does the nurse palpate the spinal processes during the neck examination?

Palpating the spinal processes helps identify any abnormalities or tenderness along the cervical spine, ensuring the neck's alignment and health.

What does the nurse assess when testing the range of motion and strength in the neck?

The nurse tests the patient's ability to move their neck in different directions, including flexion, extension, and rotation, while also checking the strength of the neck muscles against resistance.

How does the nurse assess the patient's shoulder joint function?

The nurse assesses the shoulder by having the patient move their arms in various directions, including lifting, rotating, and extending, while palpating for pain or abnormal movements.

What is the purpose of testing the strength of the elbows and wrists?

Testing the strength of the elbows and wrists ensures that the muscles surrounding these joints are functioning normally and that the joints are not experiencing weakness or pain.

Why is palpating the wrists and hands important during the examination?

Palpating the wrists and hands is important to check for abnormalities like swelling, tenderness, or deformities in the many bones of the hands and wrists, which could indicate issues such as arthritis or injury.

What does the nurse check during the hip assessment?

During the hip assessment, the nurse palpates the sides of the hips for pain and tests the range of motion by asking the patient to move their legs in various directions to check for strength and flexibility.

How does the nurse assess knee function?

The nurse assesses knee function by palpating the knees for tenderness and asking the patient to perform movements like bending, straightening, and resisting pressure to evaluate strength and mobility.

What does the nurse look for when palpating the spine and observing the patient bending over?

The nurse looks for symmetry in the shoulders, scapula, hips, and gluteal folds, as well as ensuring that the spine has a normal curve, which should resemble a 'C' shape during bending.