ABSTRACT
Musculoskeletal presentations can be very challenging for the primary care provider; referred pain, psychological overlay, comorbid illness, and autoimmune disease are just several entities that can confound the correct diagnosis. In conjunction with a good history and physical examination, laboratory ndings can help conrm a diagnosis, rule out disease, and provide insight into the overall health of a patient. In the athletic population in particular, lab ndings that may be abnormal in a nonathlete may be completely normal in an athlete and vice versa. This chapter will look at commonly ordered labs and their usefulness as they pertain to musculoskeletal and sports medicine. It will also highlight unique lab results normal to an athlete, detail unique clinical problems dened by a laboratory abnormality, and discuss follow-up considerations for potential abnormal labs (Table 20.1).
