Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Musculoskeletal Examination

The screening musculoskeletal examination (SMSE) is designed to provide an introduction to the physical assessment of musculoskeletal structures and will enable you to recognize normal joint appearance and alignment, the spectrum of normal joint range of motion and will help you recognize basic abnormalities of musculoskeletal structure and function. As a screening examination, it is brief yet systematic, is easily performed, and increases examiner confidence that no important musculoskeletal findings have been overlooked. With practice, the SMSE can be performed in 3 to 4 minutes. Furthermore, the screening examination provides the foundation for learning a more complete examination, the GMSE, at a later point in your training. The SMSE is clinically useful as the musculoskeletal component of an athletic preparticipation physical examination, as part of a complete physical examination, or as the initial examination in an individual with a local or regional musculoskeletal complaint with possible musculoskeletal symptoms in other sites. This instructional program will emphasize five categories of abnormality and will define the important role of symmetry in assessing the musculoskeletal system. It will outline the principles of active and passive range of motion and illustrate the neutral position and the principal direction of motion for most peripheral joints and the axial spine. Most importantly, it will prepare you to perform a fully integrated SMSE.