Episode Summary
Learn why musculoskeletal assessment must be adapted for children and adolescents, from developmental differences and pediatric red flags to the impact of growth, safeguarding, and communication. Gain practical tips to recognize what sets young patients apart and improve clinical assessment with confidence.
Pediatric musculoskeletal assessment requires a different approach from adult assessment, especially when working with children and adolescents under 18. The session explains how adolescence extends beyond puberty and includes important developmental, social, and psychological changes that affect communication, symptoms, and clinical decision-making.
Key differences include the three-way relationship between clinician, young person, and parent, the need to respect children’s rights to protection and participation, and the importance of safeguarding. Learners are guided to watch for red flags such as regression or delay in developmental milestones, systemic illness, behavior change, swelling, bruising, neurological signs, and unexplained pain or limping. Growth and puberty are emphasized as essential parts of assessment, including recognizing delayed or regressed development.
The session also outlines common normal variants in children, such as flexible flat feet, in-toeing, out-toeing, bow legs, knock-knees, and increased ligament laxity, helping distinguish normal development from pathology. It introduces pediatric-specific conditions and explains how disorders like juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and complex regional pain syndrome may present differently in young people. A final focus is creating positive healthcare experiences through child-centered, meaningful, and age-appropriate assessment.
