An orthopedic doctor in the clinic begins with a detailed medical history, including questions about the time of onset of symptoms, the nature of the pain, activities that worsen or improve it, a history of injuries and chronic diseases such as arthritis or diabetes.
He also asks about medications a patient is taking and looks at the medical history to understand the general background.
Then, the doctor performs a physical examination that includes an assessment of posture, walking, standing and lying down.
He examines the affected area by palpation, looking for signs of tenderness, swelling or heat.
Next, the ranges of motion of the joints are checked to check for limitations, and additional tests are performed as needed, such as stability tests, ligament integrity and neurological tests.
In addition, imaging tests such as X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound are performed to accurately diagnose the problem.
All the information collected is combined to determine a diagnosis and plan an individually tailored treatment, aimed at improving the patient's function and quality of life.