Musculoskeletal Assessment Based on Age
Subjective Assessment
Musculoskeletal assessment varies between the patients’ ages. During history taking, their salient should be taken from children, middle-aged adults, and the elderly. Across all ages, it is important to begin the history taking by asking about the patient’s presenting symptoms, including the site, onset duration character, severity, relieving, and exacerbating factors (RN), 2021). As additional information, there are specific questions that can be posed to patients based on their age. For instance, in a 2-day-old infant, it would be important to ask about any history of peripartum trauma, the presentations during delivery, i.e., whether the baby came out with the head first or in breach, any history of forceps use during delivery, any history of click in hips and if there was any notice abnormality of the joints and limbs after delivery. For 12-year-olds, it would be wise to inquire about any history of sustained fracture or dislocation, any pre-existing abnormality of the limbs or spine, any history of difficulty in walking, and about the child’s participation in physical activity. A 12-year-old is expected to be physical during, and hence, causes of musculoskeletal abnormality can vary. For middle-aged adults such as 35 years old, it is important to inquire about any pre-existing abnormality since childhood, any history of falls from height, any history of trauma from road traffic accidents, and any history of previous fractures (RN), 2021). However, for the elderly, such as 65 years old, the essential information to consider while taking history includes a history of assistive devices while moving, any history of falls, whether from a height or near fall and any history of limited physical activity. With age, the most common causes of musculoskeletal abnormality are usually pathologic or due to aging. Our assignment help will hone your writing prowess for papers that will awe your professors.
Objective Assessment
The purpose of objective assessment is to screen for any abnormality and to assess for function. The objective assessment is similar for adolescents, adults, and the elderly, such as a 12-year-old, a 35-year-old, and a 75-year-old, respectively. During the physical exam, It is important to assess the patient from the time they move toward you in an examination room. The important things to assess include gait assessment and spine curvature (Boulila et al., 2021). Range of motions of each joint, muscle bulk, muscle tone, muscle power, and tendon reflexes. Erect posture is the expected normal gait. However, some patients can present with poor balance while walking, which is considered an abnormal gait. Examples of abnormal gaits include waddling gait, ataxic gait, Trendelburg’s gait, among others. Muscle bulks for the bilateral limbs are expected to be symmetrical. Any sign of wasting is considered an abnormal finding. For the muscle power and muscle power of below 5 in each muscle group, it should be considered an abnormal finding. For the assessment of the range of motion in the elderly, such as 75 years old patients, it is important to take caution to avoid further injury as old age is associated with weak bones and stiff joints that result from osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, respectively (Boulila et al., 2021). Additionally, some maneuvers can be applied during the assessment. The maneuvers include resistive assessment of different muscle groups in the lower limb and handgrip to assess strength. For a newborn, such as 2 an old infant, some assessments are almost impossible, including gait assessment, tendon reflex, muscle power, and range of motions. However, some reflexes should be assessed, including the Plantar extensor reflex, and it is expected to be positive in infants.
References
Boulila, C., Girouard-Chantal, É., Gendron, C., Lassman, M., & Dubé, T. (2021). Physiotherapist-led musculoskeletal education: an innovative approach to teach medical students musculoskeletal assessment techniques. Canadian Medical Education Journal/Revue canadienne de l’éducation médicale, 12(3), 163-165. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.71069
RN), O. (2021). 13.4 Musculoskeletal Assessment. Wtcs.pressbooks.pub. Retrieved 11 November 2021, from https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/nursingskills/chapter/13-4-musculoskeletal-assessment/.
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Question 
Initial posting – Health assessment varies per system and per age of the patient. The musculoskeletal history and exam also differ based on the age of the patient.
Musculoskeletal Assessment Based on Age
Discuss the musculoskeletal assessment of the following ages. Be sure to address all four patients. Include history questions to ask and at least 3 pertinent physical exam findings you would assess for each patient. What maneuvers would you perform? What are normal and abnormal findings?
1. A 2-day-old infant
2. A 12-year-old child
3. A 35 year old patient
4. A 65-year-old patient