A physical examination following the medical history is necessary for medical doctors to reach an exact diagnosis. In OA, loss or limited range of motion in specific joints, swelling, tenderness, and bony growths in the surrounding area are the most important keys in physical examination of OA cases.

A physical examination will usually follow the medical history as the physician looks for physical signs of the disease. These include swelling and tenderness of the joints, loss of movement in specific joints, or visible joint damage such as bony growths in the surrounding area. The patient may also be asked to perform a variety of physical tasks so the physician can evaluate the range of motion and general joint mobility^[1][2].