![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Clinicians, including physiotherapists, involved in treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, routinely identify digitally tender points in superficial tissue. The characteristics of these points and their significance for assessment, prognosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions are controversial. There is evidence that altered central mediation of pain may explain some digitally tender points. Muscle spindle and end-plate abnormalities have also been implicated in the development of digitally tender points. Models proposed to explain muscle pain and dysfunction may provide insights into the physiological processes underlying digitally tender points. There is a need for further investigation to characterise digitally tender points and determine their significance for assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. The Strain–Counterstrain paradigm, in which tender points are located by palpation of defined anatomical sites and are used to guide passive body positioning treatment, appears to offer a convenient means for investigation of digitally tender points.