Palpation of the Joints

“Movement is life” is a principle for maintaining health. Movement is made possible by the interaction of bones that are stable in bending and muscles, tendons and ligaments that are stable in stretching. Joints play a crucial role in this system and interact with different periarticular structures to achieve the required range of motion. Direct palpation can be realised via the joint space, which is simultaneously accompanied by palpation of the bone ends. The technique of palpating with the fingertips in a steep position is suitable for palpation. In this chapter, all palpable joint spaces are described using direct or mobilising grips. A precise and sensitive approach is essential, as the movements in some joints can only be felt with a high degree of precision in relation to the execution of the technique.