honeypot link
skip to main content
Professional
Consumer
MSD Manual
Consumer Version
HEALTH TOPICS
HEALTHY LIVING
SYMPTOMS
EMERGENCIES
RESOURCES
COMMENTARY
ABOUT US
HEALTH TOPICS
HEALTHY LIVING
<
Health Topics
Bone, Joint, and Muscle Disorders
Expand all
Collapse all
Biology of the Musculoskeletal System
Introduction to the Biology of the Musculoskeletal System
Bones
Muscles
Tendons and Bursae
Ligaments
Joints
Effects of Aging on the Musculoskeletal System
Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Introduction to Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal Pain
Causes
Evaluation
Testing
Treatment
Difficulty Moving
Causes
Joint disorders
Weakness
Diagnosis
Treatment
Joint Stiffness
Joint Noises
Joint Pain: Single Joint
Causes
Common causes
Less common causes
Evaluation
Warning signs
When to see a doctor
What the doctor does
Testing
Treatment
Key Points
Joint Pain: Many Joints
Causes
Evaluation
Warning signs
When to see a doctor
What the doctor does
Testing
Treatment
Essentials for Older Adults
Key Points
Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Medical History and Physical Examination in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Medical History
Pain
Stiffness
Fatigue
Joint instability
Physical Examination
Bones and joints
Muscles and nerves
Tests for Musculoskeletal Disorders
Laboratory Tests
Imaging Tests
X-rays
Bone scanning
Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
Ultrasonography
Other Diagnostic Procedures
Arthroscopy
Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis)
Nerve and muscle tests
Systemic Rheumatic Diseases
Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies
Types
Symptoms
Muscle weakness
Joint aches and inflammation
Internal organ problems
Skin changes
Diagnosis
Blood tests
Electromyography and imaging tests
Biopsy
Other tests
Treatment
Prognosis
Eosinophilic Fasciitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Relapsing Polychondritis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Sjögren Syndrome
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Established criteria
Tear and saliva tests
Blood tests
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Overview of Systemic Rheumatic Diseases
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Cutaneous lupus
Symptoms
Joint problems
Skin and mucous membrane problems
Lung problems
Heart problems
Lymph node and spleen problems
Nervous system problems
Kidney problems
Blood problems
Gastrointestinal tract problems
Pregnancy problems
Diagnosis
Laboratory tests
Treatment
Mild to moderate lupus
Severe lupus
Maintenance medications
Other medical conditions and pregnancy
Prognosis
More Information
Systemic Sclerosis
Symptoms
Skin changes
Joint changes
Gastrointestinal system changes
Lung and heart changes
Kidney changes
CREST syndrome
Diagnosis
Treatment
Skin and joint problems
Gastrointestinal problems
Lung and heart problems
Kidney problems
Prognosis
More Information
Bone and Joint Infections
Artificial Joint Infectious Arthritis
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Osteomyelitis
Causes
Spread through the blood
Direct invasion
Spread from nearby structures
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Antibiotics and antifungal medications
Surgery and drainage
Prognosis
More Information
Infectious Arthritis
Acute infectious arthritis
Chronic infectious arthritis
Causes
Acute infectious arthritis
Chronic infectious arthritis
Symptoms
Acute infectious arthritis
Chronic infectious arthritis
Diagnosis
Treatment
Antibiotics
Removal of pus
Splinting and physical therapy
Prognosis
More Information
Foot and Ankle Problems
Achilles Tendinopathy
Sever Disease
Treatment
Achilles Tendon Bursitis
Symptoms
Posterior Achilles tendon bursitis
Anterior Achilles tendon bursitis
Diagnosis
Treatment
Achilles Tendon Enthesopathy
Diagnosis
Treatment
Bunion
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Damage to Nerves in the Foot
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Freiberg Disease
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Hammer Toe
Diagnosis
Treatment
Inferior Calcaneal Bursitis
Medial and Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Metatarsal Joint Pain
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Pain in the Ball of the Foot (Metatarsalgia)
Plantar Fasciitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Plantar Fibromatosis
Sesamoiditis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Overview of Foot and Ankle Problems
Essentials for Older Adults: Foot Problems
Treatment
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Tibialis Posterior Tendinosis and Tibialis Posterior Tenosynovitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Gout and Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis
Gout
Causes
Symptoms
Tophi
Complications of gout
Diagnosis
Treatment
Relieving acute flares of gout
Preventing further flares of gout
Lowering blood levels of uric acid
Mobilization flares
Other treatments
Prognosis
Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Basic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) Crystal Deposition Disease
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Hand Disorders
Boutonnière Deformity
Treatment
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
De Quervain Syndrome
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Dupuytren Contracture
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Felon
Treatment
Hand Abscess
Treatment
Hand Infections Caused By Bites
Diagnosis
Treatment
Herpetic Whitlow
Treatment
Infection of the Tendon Sheath in the Fingers
Diagnosis
Treatment
Kienböck Disease
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Osteoarthritis of the Hand
Diagnosis
Treatment
Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Treatment
Trigger Finger
Treatment
Overview of Hand Disorders
Hand and finger deformities
Hand and finger infections
Nerve compression syndromes of the hand
Ganglia
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Swan-Neck Deformity
Treatment
IgG4-Related Disease
IgG4-Related Disease
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Joint Disorders
Neuropathic Arthropathy
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Blood tests
Treatment
Medications
Lifestyle measures
Physical treatments
Surgery
Medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
Other immunosuppressive agents
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Corticosteroids
Prognosis
More Information
Overview of Spondyloarthritis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Physical measures
Medications
Surgery
Other treatments
More Information
Psoriatic Arthritis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Reactive Arthritis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Low Back and Neck Pain
Herniated Disc
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Measures to relieve pain
Surgery
Prevention
Sciatica
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment
Measures to relieve pain
Surgery
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Measures to relieve pain
Surgery
Spondylolisthesis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Measures to relieve pain
Surgery
Low Back Pain
Types of back pain
Causes
Common causes
Less common causes
Evaluation
Warning signs
When to see a doctor
What the doctor does
Testing
Prevention
Treatment
General measures for back pain
Treatment of chronic back pain
Surgery for back pain
Vertebral compression fractures
Key Points
Neck Pain
Causes
Common causes
Less common causes
Evaluation
Warning signs
When to see a doctor
What the doctor does
Testing
Treatment
General measures for neck pain
Other measures to reduce neck pain
Surgery for neck pain
Key Points
Muscle, Bursa, and Tendon Disorders
Baker Cysts
Diagnosis
Treatment
Fibromyalgia
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Improving sleep
Relieving pain
Prognosis
Introduction to Muscle, Bursa, and Tendon Disorders
Bursitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Nonsurgical measures
Surgical procedures
Prevention
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Types of Osteoporosis
Primary osteoporosis
Secondary osteoporosis
Idiopathic osteoporosis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Bone density testing
Other tests
Treatment
Calcium and vitamin D
Weight-bearing exercise
Medications
Treatment of pain and fractures
Prevention
More Information
Paget Disease of Bone
Paget Disease of Bone
Causes
Symptoms
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Vasculitic Disorders
Behçet Disease
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Overview of Vasculitis
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Prognosis
Treatment
Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants
More Information
Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Giant Cell Arteritis
Symptoms
Headache and scalp pain
Blindness and visual disturbances
Jaw and tongue pain
Neurologic and cardiovascular problems
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Diagnosis
Treatment
More Information
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Takayasu Arteritis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
More Information
Immunoglobulin A–Associated Vasculitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
More Information
Microscopic Polyangiitis
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
More Information
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
More Information
