Orthopedic & Neurological Examination

What Do Orthopedic Evaluations Entail?

Medical professionals will complete a full orthopedic evaluation to get a better understand as to what is going on within the human body. The proper treatment and management plan cannot be developed without a comprehensive medical examination. Orthopedic evaluations focus on the range of motion, skeletal system, and soft tissue of the human body.

Orthopedic evaluations usually start with a thorough medical history up to the current date. Then the medical professional will ask questions in regards to the medical history and the current state of health. Mechanisms of injury, pain levels, range of motion limitations, and more will all be discussed in this portion of an orthopedic evaluation. Once all of the questions have been answered the physical examination will begin.

A physical examination will give the medical professional measurable results of the human body. The range of motion of the affected joints will be measured along with swelling. A medical professional will also check for bone or structural deformity. Once all of these have been complete, the medical professional will move on the muscle and flexibility testing. From there a medical professional will test the affected joints with clinical testing methods for determining the integrity of tendons and ligaments.

If there are any concerns as to the health of one or more joints, further testing will complete; X-rays, MRI, EMG, etc. These tests will determine the correct treatment protocol for each individual.

What Do Neurological Evaluations Entail?

A neurological evaluation tests the state and function of the nerves in the body. This assessment will test the sensory and motor responses (reflexes) of the body. Often times a neurological evaluation is completed in conjunction with an orthopedic evaluation.

When sensory and motor responses are not equal bilaterally, there is thought to be an impairment within the nervous system. Sometimes these impairments are due to herniated discs, impinged nerves, or injury to a nerve root. Often times these abnormal sensory responses should be further tested to find the cause of the neurological deficit.