Musculoskeletal Assessment Cases

Practise the full MSK assessment workflow

Strong musculoskeletal assessment is a sequence, not a checklist: an informative subjective history, a targeted objective examination, screening for serious pathology, a reasoned differential diagnosis, and a clear management plan. Each case takes you through that sequence so it becomes second nature.

Red flags and referral considerations

Screening for serious pathology is a core reasoning skill. Cases embed red-flag features into realistic histories so you practise recognising when a presentation needs onward referral rather than physiotherapy management.

Subjective history and objective examination

• Extract mechanism, symptom behaviour, irritability, and functional limitations from the history.
• Choose objective tests and special tests that confirm or refute your hypotheses.
• Interpret findings as clusters against pre-test probability.
• Build a differential diagnosis across competing MSK causes.
• Plan management and define the asterisk signs you will re-test.

Every body region, every difficulty

Cases cover the spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, hip and pelvis, knee, and ankle and foot, structured from beginner to advanced. Progress from clear presentations to complex differentials that mirror real caseloads.

Frequently asked questions

What are musculoskeletal assessment cases?

They are structured patient scenarios that let you practise the full MSK assessment workflow - subjective history, objective examination, screening, differential diagnosis, and management planning - and receive feedback on your reasoning.

Do the cases cover red flags?

Yes. Realistic histories embed red-flag features so you practise recognising serious pathology and knowing when to refer rather than treat.

Which body regions are covered?

Cases span the spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, hip and pelvis, knee, and ankle and foot across beginner to advanced difficulty levels.