[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Clinical exam](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/) › Musculoskeletal system # Musculoskeletal system The joint exam and the special tests of the hand, spine, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle. 17 pages ## Syndrome - [**Compartment syndrome: the early signs** When pressure rises inside a group of muscles wrapped in fascia, the pain is huge and gets worse…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/compartment-syndrome-the-early-signs/) ## Maneuver - [**FABER (Patrick) and FADIR tests** Two maneuvers with the leg bent in different positions to tell whether pain comes from the hip…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/faber-and-fadir-tests/) - [**Finkelstein test** Bending the thumb while the wrist tilts toward the little finger causes sharp pain at the edge…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/finkelstein-test/) - [**Knee effusion: patellar tap and bulge sign** Two maneuvers to tell whether there is fluid inside the knee: the kneecap that bounces when…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/knee-effusion-patellar-tap-and-bulge-sign/) - [**Lachman test and anterior drawer** Pulling the shin forward with the knee bent shows whether the anterior cruciate ligament is…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/lachman-test-and-anterior-drawer/) - [**Lasègue sign (straight leg raise) and Bragard sign** Lifting the straight leg of a person lying down: pain that shoots down the back of the leg means…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/lasegue-sign-and-bragard-sign/) - [**Meniscal tests: McMurray and Apley** Bending and twisting the knee while feeling the joint line can produce a painful click when a…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/meniscal-tests-mcmurray-and-apley/) - [**Ortolani and Barlow maneuvers** Two gentle maneuvers on a newborn's hip: one puts a dislocated hip back in place (Ortolani) and…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/ortolani-and-barlow-maneuvers/) - [**Phalen and Tinel signs** Two simple wrist maneuvers that bring on tingling in the fingers when the median nerve is…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/phalen-and-tinel-signs/) - [**Shoulder tests: Neer, Hawkins, Jobe and drop arm** Four maneuvers that show whether shoulder pain comes from a tendon pinched under the acromion or…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/shoulder-tests-neer-hawkins-jobe-and-drop-arm/) - [**Spine examination: the Adams forward-bend test and Schober test** Bending forward reveals the rib hump of scoliosis (Adams), and measuring how much the low-back…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/spine-examination-the-adams-forward-bend-test-and-schober-test/) - [**Thompson test** Squeezing the calf of a person lying face down should point the foot downward; if the foot does…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/thompson-test/) ## Sign - [**Hand deformities: Heberden, Bouchard, swan neck, boutonnière** The shape of the fingers tells which arthritis a person has: hard nodes in osteoarthritis and…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/hand-deformities-heberden-bouchard-swan-neck-boutonniere/) - [**Trendelenburg sign and gait** When a person stands on one leg and the hip on the other side drops, the gluteus medius of the…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/trendelenburg-sign-and-gait/) ## Exam technique - [**Inspection of gait and posture (orthopedic)** Watching a person stand and walk shows a lot: limps from pain, weak muscles, unequal legs or a…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/inspection-of-gait-and-posture/) - [**Joint examination: inspection, palpation and range of motion** Look at, feel and move each joint, always against the healthy side, to tell whether the problem…](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/joint-examination-inspection-palpation-and-range-of-motion/) ## Topic - [**Ottawa ankle and knee rules** A few questions and spots to press help decide whether a twisted ankle or knee needs an X-ray](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/ottawa-ankle-and-knee-rules/) ## A to Z - [A](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/a/) - [B](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/b/) - [C](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/c/) - [D](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/d/) - [E](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/e/) - [F](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/f/) - [G](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/g/) - [H](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/h/) - [I](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/i/) - [J](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/j/) - [K](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/k/) - [L](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/l/) - [M](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/m/) - [N](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/n/) - [O](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/o/) - [P](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/p/) - [R](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/r/) - [S](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/s/) - [T](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/t/) - [U](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/u/) - [V](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/v/) - [W](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/a-z/w/) [← Clinical examination](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/) Educational content on the clinical exam; it is learned and practised under supervision. It does not replace assessment by a health professional and is not for self-diagnosis. Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/areas/musculoskeletal/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/areas/musculoskeletal/