Medical History and Physical Exam for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Current as of: October 10, 2017
Your medical history and current medical condition help your doctor diagnose and/or evaluate rheumatoid arthritis. To assess your medical history, your doctor may ask:
During the physical exam, your doctor may look at, feel, and move each joint and evaluate it for:
During the exam, your doctor may also do a routine evaluation of the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys.
Important findings in the physical exam include the:
Rheumatoid arthritis often causes painful, swollen, "hot" joints and often affects the same joints on both sides of the body. Your doctor will note the location of affected joints, as well as other symptoms, to find out whether your condition meets the criteria for a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Physical findings are an important part of the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and are also used to evaluate the success of treatment.
Complete the medical test information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this test.
Current as of: October 10, 2017
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2018 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.