Diagnosis starts with a medical history and physical examination. “It’s a complete musculoskeletal exam, not just evaluating the joint or the area that’s injured,” Doctor says. “We look for modifiable risk factors like alignment. We look for muscle imbalance or muscle weakness. We look for asymmetry. Limb length plays a big role. Within those subtle signs, we expand our evaluation and questioning in terms of trying to look for environmental factors or just activity that exposes you to injury.”

Imaging tests such as X-rays, MIR, and ultrasound help determine a condition’s severity. Your doctor may order blood tests that indicate inflammatory processes, as with rheumatoid arthritis. A bone density scan called a DEXA scan is used to evaluate osteoporosis.