Orthopedic Exam Steps You Can Use Today

If you’ve ever wondered how doctors check bones, joints, and muscles, this guide breaks it down into easy steps. No fancy jargon—just the moves you need to feel confident during a musculoskeletal exam.

Step 1: Look, Listen, and Ask

Start with a quick visual scan. Notice swelling, bruising, or abnormal posture. While you’re watching, ask the patient where it hurts, when the pain started, and what makes it better or worse. This chat sets the stage for everything else.

Step 2: Feel the Area

Use your fingertips to palpate the region. Gently press around the painful spot, the surrounding muscles, and the nearby bone landmarks. Feel for warmth, tenderness, or any irregular bumps. This tells you if the problem is superficial or deeper.

After you’ve inspected and palpated, move on to range of motion testing. Ask the patient to move the joint on their own (active) and then guide the movement yourself (passive). Compare the full motion to the opposite side. Limited motion or pain during a specific direction can pinpoint the issue.

Next, run the basic strength tests. Have the person push or pull against your hand while you resist. Grade the strength on a 0‑5 scale. Weakness might signal nerve involvement or muscle injury.

Finish with a few special tests that are specific to the joint you’re examining. For a knee, the Lachman test checks ligament stability; for the shoulder, the Hawkins‑Kennedy maneuver looks at impingement. Only do these if the earlier steps suggest a problem.

Wrap up the exam by summarizing what you found. Note any red flags—like sudden loss of sensation, severe deformity, or uncontrolled bleeding—and advise the patient on next steps, whether that’s rest, a referral, or imaging.

Doing these orthopedic exam steps in order saves time and helps you spot the real issue fast. Practice each step a few times, and soon it’ll feel as natural as brushing your teeth.