Physical Exam and History for Osteoarthritis

Exam Overview

A doctor often discovers important information about the possible causes of symptoms through a discussion about your medical history. During this discussion, the doctor may ask questions such as the following:

• How long have you had symptoms? (Osteoarthritis usually develops slowly.)
• Are your joints stiff in the morning? If so, for how long?
• Have you tried any medicines that have helped the pain? If yes, how much do they help?
• Do exercises help your pain or make it worse? Which kinds of exercises have you tried? Have you tried bicycling or swimming for your hips or knees?
• Has there been a pattern to your symptoms? (Osteoarthritis symptoms typically begin on one side of the body and often affect just one set of joints.)
• Do you have a family history of arthritis?
• Do you have any general symptoms that seem to affect your whole body, such as fatigue, weight loss, or fever? (Osteoarthritis usually doesn't cause whole-body symptoms.)
• Has there been any recent or past injury to the affected joints, especially a major joint injury or injuries related to repetitive motion? (A recent injury may mean painful symptoms are related to the injury, not to a disease.)

During the physical exam, the doctor will look at, feel, and move each joint, evaluating it:

• For swelling, warmth, or tenderness.
• For range of motion.
• To determine the pattern of affected joints (such as one knee, both knees, knuckles, wrists, or shoulders). Often, the pattern of joints affected can help a doctor tell the difference between osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• To note any bony knobs (osteophytic changes) on joints (especially the fingers).

The doctor will also look for any signs of unequal leg lengths, muscle weakness, or muscle wasting.

During a physical exam, the doctor also will do an evaluation of the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys.