Comprehensive examination of the musculoskeletal system

Did you know?

The site of the pain is not always the site of the cause. Knee pain often arises from weakness of the hip muscles; shoulder complaints can come from the cervical spine; heel pain can come from an altered alignment of the foot. Anyone who examines and treats only the painful spot misses such connections – and the symptoms come back.

That is why every treatment with us begins with a complete examination of the musculoskeletal system. It is not a procedure of alternative medicine, but the thorough physical examination that orthopaedics provides for.

What we examine:

• Posture, stance, level of the pelvis and shoulders, and leg alignment
• Mobility of all large joints and of the sections of the spine
• Muscle strength, muscle shortening and muscular imbalances
• Stability of the joints and function of ligaments and tendons
• Gait pattern and load distribution
• Reflexes, sensation and nerve-stretch signs
• Pain on pressure and movement in the affected structures

Why this matters:

• The cause is sought where it lies, not only where it hurts
• Imaging is used in a targeted way and not routinely
• Findings from X-ray or MRI can be interpreted correctly – not every visible change causes symptoms
• Treatment can address the cause instead of only the symptom

How we proceed:

We begin with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, how they have developed, the demands of your work and sport, and previous treatments. This is followed by the physical examination comparing both sides, in which we include the affected region and the neighbouring sections.

Only on this basis do we decide together which further diagnostics are useful — such as an ultrasound examination, a digital X-ray, a laboratory test or a gait analysis. In this way we avoid examinations that add no diagnostic insight.

Take time for the first appointment – we do too.

Talk to us – we will be glad to advise you in person.