What is typically assessed during a palpation of the knee?

• A. Temperature and texture of the skin
• B. Joint line tenderness and effusion
• C. Muscle bellies and tendons only
• D. Angles and motion restrictions

Answer: (B)

During a palpation of the knee, the assessment focuses on identifying joint line tenderness and the presence of effusion (swelling within the knee joint). This is crucial in evaluating the knee for possible injuries or pathologies, such as meniscus tears, ligament damage, or arthritis.

Joint line tenderness specifically helps in pinpointing issues related to the meniscus, which is often injured during activities that involve twisting or loading of the knee. Additionally, assessing for effusion is important because swelling can indicate inflammation or injury, and it provides guidance for further diagnostic procedures, such as aspiration if necessary.

While skin temperature and texture are important in a comprehensive assessment, they are not the primary focus during knee palpation. Muscle bellies and tendons are typically assessed through palpation of the muscle groups around the knee but are not the central concern of joint-specific evaluation. Lastly, angles and motion restrictions pertain more to the functional assessment rather than the specific palpation technique focusing on pathology identification. Thus, the emphasis on joint line tenderness and effusion makes this choice the most relevant for a palpation assessment of the knee.