Approach To Joint Pain In The Elderly For Osteopathic Providers

Joint pain in the elderly is becoming ever more ubiquitous in the primary care setting. Primary care providers, especially in rural communities, may be required to manage patients with rheumatologic conditions because consultation is unavailable. Literature supporting the approach to the diagnosis of joint pain in the elderly population is limited. The purpose of this manuscript is to present a case-based learning opportunity for osteopathic primary care providers, residents, and medical students regarding an elderly male with joint pain. In this manuscript, the authors have presented an advanced organizer to be used in the medical education setting which differentiates patients suffering from joint pain based on timing, the number of joints involved, and the size of the joint affected. We conclude with osteopathic considerations in evaluating an elderly patient with joint pain and the tools available to appropriately evaluate and treat the patient.