Question

When performing musuloskeletal ROM assessment, what is the best way to remember all the steps in testing each joint movement and strength?

Answer 1

The musculoskeletal system consists of the muscles, cartilage, bones and joints. The system provides the body with support and movement. This system protects major organs produces red blood cells and store important minerals like calcium and phosphorus. A properly functioning musculoskeletal system is very important for a patient to perform activities of daily life. The assessment techniques of musculoskeletal Thal system are inspection, palpation and observing the range of motion of the joints. The following are the steps for performing musculoskeletal ROM assessment in testing each joint movements and strength:

1. Gather all the information about the patient’s history.

2. Gather information on chief complaints or symptoms and ask questions about general pain such as neck pain, joint pain, and back pain. Assess for swelling, stiffness and inflammation should be done.

3. Perform inspection of the musculoskeletal system., this involves inspection of all the joints.

4. Perform palpation of the musculoskeletal system.

5. Assess Range of Motion (ROM) shoulder. This involves assessing the shoulder joint for six different movements. These movements include extension, flexion, adduction, internal rotation and external rotation.

6. Assessing Range of Motion (ROM) Elbow. It involves the assessment of elbow joint for four different movements which includes extension, flexion, supination of the forearm and pronation of the forearm.

7. Assess Range of Motion (ROM) Wrist and finger and thumb. This also involves the assessment for four different movements of the wrist, such as extension, flexion, ulnar deviation and radial deviation. The test for fingers is done by four different movements, which include flexion, extension, abduction and adduction. For the thumb, the test for flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and opposition is done.

8. Additional assessments of the wrist, fingers and thumb. This assessment includes handgrip test, Finkelstein’s test, Tinel’s sign and Phalen’s test.

9. Assess Range of Motion (ROM) Cervical Spine. Assessing the cervical spine for mobility. Noting the movements of the neck. Assessment for the flexion, extension, rotation and lateral bending of the cervical spine is done.

10. Assessing Range of Motion (ROM) Spinal Column. It involves assessing the mobility of the spinal column through flexion, extension, rotation and lateral bending.

11. Assessing the Range of Motion (ROM) Hip. This includes testing the movements of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation and internal rotation.

12. Assess the Range of Motion (ROM) Knee. Assessing is done through testing the movements of flexion, extension, internal rotation and external rotation.

13. Assessing the Range of Motion (ROM). Ankle and Foot. It involves assessing the movement of plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion.

The above steps help with nursing health assessment of the musculoskeletal system. The assessment helps to identify any problems o patient may have with the movements and performing activities.