When you have a history of knee injury or pain, you have to undergo an orthopedic inspection of knee pain. The first thing your doctor will do is go over your medical history. He will probably ask you about the various pains and aches you have experienced as well the mechanisms of injury. Also, he will inquire about previous attempts in treating knee problems as well surgery.

The physician then begins his physical examination of your knee by comparing the aching knee with the asymptomatic knee. He will check for swelling, bruising and discoloration. The muscles of the knees should be symmetric bilaterally.

Orthopedic inspection of knee pain can be done in a lot of ways: with the patient standing, supine or sitting. In most occasions, the patient is in bed, with his hands on his sides and the head resting on a pillow. His hands should be on his sides with his knees extended. The hip should neither be flexed nor extended. Knees must be exposed in order for the physician to assess the quadriceps muscles.

When the patient is standing, the knee will be examined for Baker’s cyst, varus and valgus deformity and gait. Baker’s cyst is a swelling of the bursa of the knee while varus and valgus deformities are being knock-kneed and bow-legged, respectively. Physical activities done by the patient is bending (130 degrees of flexion) and straightening each knee.

When the patient is seated, the knees will be checked for swelling, deformity and tenderness. The doctor will palpate the knee, checking the patellar tendon, tibial tubical and joint lines. Deep tendon reflexes and strength of the big toe will be evaluated while the patient is seated.

When the patient is lying down, the knees will also be examined for masses, scars, lesions, signs of previous trauma, swelling, and redness. A patellofemoral assessment is an evaluation for effusion in the joints. An overuse of the joint results in pain in the patellar-femoral region. Also, a straight leg raising test will be done to test nerve root involvement.

If you are experiencing knee pains and other problems, do not simply ignore it. Some knee disorders, when left alone, develops into an advanced stage. This can lead to other debilitating illnesses and will make your life more stressful.  So, when there is some pain in your knee, it should be a priority for you to have an orthopedic inspection of knee pain. This way, you can prevent it from getting worse.