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Tender Points
The pain associated with Fibromyalgia Tender Points differs from Myofascial trigger point pain.
Fibromyalgia Tender Point or Myofascial Trigger Point? ♥ About 23 million people, or 10 percent of the US population, have one or more chronic disorders of the musculoskeletal system. FMS tender point or myofascial trigger point (TrPs) locations may overlap in patients with FM syndrome. ♥ FMS patients have fibromyalgia tender point pain, while myofascial patients have myofascial trigger point pain. Tender points and TrPs may be present at the same time and sometimes overlap in their presentation. . What is a FMS Tender Point?
According to The American College of Rheumatology, FMS is based on two major criteria: ♥ Widespread, diffused pain lasting at least three months ♥ Pain in a minimum of 11, out of 18 possible, specified points There are no lumps or nodes associated with fybromyalgia tender point pain and no signs of inflammation (swelling, redness, or heat). Pain locations will hurt normally, but when pressed, the pain is exaggerated with no radiation of pain from the 'point'. About 4 kg - 9 lbs of pressure (enough to turn the thumbnail white) must result in a painful point, not just “tender”. The Fybromyalgia tender point pain can vary depending on the time of day, weather, physical activity, and presence of a stressful situations; and pain is often more intense after a disturbed sleep.
Myofascial TrPsExtremely painful spots located in a tight band of skeletal muscle is a distinct feature of TrPs pain. The spots are painful when pressure is applied and produces referred pain. Trigger point pain can be active or latent, depending on the clinical characteristics. An active trigger point causes pain at rest, is tender to touch, with a referred pain pattern that is similar to the patient's description of pain felt not at the site of the point, but radiating away from it. Referred pain differentiates a TrPs from a FMS tender point. Locations of tender point pain There are 18 locations of fms pain on the body (9 on each side - front and back). These areas include the back of the head, upper back and neck, upper chest, elbows, hips and knees.
| Differential Diagnosis | | Myofascial TrPs | FM Tender Point | | Local tenderness, tight muscle band, twitch response, jump response | Local tenderness | | Singular or multiple | Multiple | | May occur in any skeletal muscle | Occur in specific symmetrical locations | May cause specific referred pain
| Do not cause referred pain |
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Signs - Symptoms 
