Musculoskeletal Medicine in Primary Care

Book excerpt: This book is designed to help MSK Physicians, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, G.Ps and other respected colleagues in the examination, diagnosis and management of Common MSK pathologies presenting in primary care. Chapters are sectioned according to the anatomical area of the body. Each chapter consists of Basic Anatomy, Subjective (including differential diagnosis and red flags) and Objective examination, Observation and Physical examination, special tests (and their reliability), Pathologies, key points and flow charts for triaging. Where possible, we have used evidence based research to suppliment the practice based experience within the book. Some special chapters are dedicated to common pathologies seen in the elderly and children/ adolescents. Other chapters include Joint injections in primary care, Medicines that conflict with MSK diagnosis/management, common blood results and their meaning and common connective tissue disorders. Where possible, we have supplemented chapters with Scans, X rays, Pictures and flow charts to help explain the simplicity of each pathology. The flow charts at the end of each primary chapter is to help triage pathologies.