Understanding of Pain by Digital Tender Point Testing

Abstract

Digital tender point (TP) testing was one of the first quantitative sensory tests (QST) introduced to clinical practice. TP examination has been limited to a few low back pain (LBP) studies. TP examination should be taught, exercised and evaluated in LBP patients and also compared to the other types of QST. This study discusses the potential of TP examination in LBP patients for improving pain management. The study also raises a question that should be answered in future studies: Would it be more feasible in daily practice to use a questionnaire than using a TP examination in the first place? And if so, what is to be preferred, the fibromyalgia survey or CSI?