How much force to diagnose a tender point?
I just left this as a comment to the last post, but I wanted to post it here so everyone can see it. When it comes to the American College of Rheumatology standards for diagnosing fibromyalgia, there is in fact a very specific measure of force that should be used to diagnose a tender point - Though many doctors don't use a standardized method and therefore their diagnoses become very unscientific.
From Answers.com:
Tender points - there are 18 designated possible tender points (although a person with the syndrome may feel pain in other areas as well). During diagnosis, four kilograms-force (40 newtons) of force[6] is exerted at each of the 18 points; the patient must feel pain at 11 or more of these points for fibromyalgia to be considered. Four kilograms of force is about the amount of pressure required to turn fingernails white or to feel pain sensations on the forehead. This technique was developed by the American College of Rheumatology as a means of confirming the diagnosis for clinical studies. It is also used in the United Kingdom.
All I can say is that when I push on my body hard enough to turn my fingernail white, I can definitely feel the difference between my tender points and less affected areas. It hurts or is at least uncomfortable no matter where you push on my body, but on my tender points it hurts UNBEARABLY.
From Answers.com:
Tender points - there are 18 designated possible tender points (although a person with the syndrome may feel pain in other areas as well). During diagnosis, four kilograms-force (40 newtons) of force[6] is exerted at each of the 18 points; the patient must feel pain at 11 or more of these points for fibromyalgia to be considered. Four kilograms of force is about the amount of pressure required to turn fingernails white or to feel pain sensations on the forehead. This technique was developed by the American College of Rheumatology as a means of confirming the diagnosis for clinical studies. It is also used in the United Kingdom.
All I can say is that when I push on my body hard enough to turn my fingernail white, I can definitely feel the difference between my tender points and less affected areas. It hurts or is at least uncomfortable no matter where you push on my body, but on my tender points it hurts UNBEARABLY.