| Fibromyalgia is a frequently seen disorder with the | | | | pressure points exist at nine locations in the |
| characteristics of long time widespread muscle | | | | muscle that are oppositely placed in the body. |
| and skeletal pain, rigidity, paresthesia, sleep | | | | These include the following: |
| disturbance, and easy fatigability. It mostly affects | | | | 1. Area of the neck in front at lower cervical |
| women compared to men in a ratio of 9:1. | | | | spine |
| Some patients might complain about the pain they | | | | 2. Area of the chest in front at or around the |
| feel at the lower back area which continues to | | | | most prominent bone |
| the buttocks and legs. Some complain of aches | | | | 3. Area of the neck at the back just below the |
| and tightness in the neck area and across their | | | | head |
| upper posterior shoulders. Some may start to feel | | | | 4. Area in the upper back |
| shoulder pain, neck pain/lower back pain before it | | | | 5. Area in the junction of the shoulders and neck |
| eventually spreads throughout the whole body. | | | | 6. Area of the elbow |
| Some may think that their joints are actually | | | | 7. Area of the upper buttocks at the outer |
| inflamed. Some may have lack of sensation on | | | | quadrant |
| the hands and feet. These complain may be not | | | | 8. Area of the hip under the buttock |
| stop and may only be due to mild effort. | | | | 9. Area of the knee above the joint |
| The fibromyalgia pressure points are the | | | | Each of these areas is about the size of a coin |
| characteristic features in the diagnosis of the said | | | | penny. It requires the skills of a trained |
| disorder. On physical examination, the specific sites | | | | professional to accurately locate each point. When |
| that are more tender compared to same sites in | | | | tested, you should only feel a slight pressure in |
| normal individuals are demonstrated. With that, it | | | | these areas if you don't have fibromyalgia. On the |
| is also called tender points. These areas are | | | | contrary, an individual with fibromyalgia would feel |
| palpated using the hands with a modest and | | | | pain at the manipulation site and an increase in |
| consistent amount of pressure. Ideally, the force | | | | overall body pain sensitivity. |
| applied should be 4 kilograms or approximately 9 | | | | Currently, doctors rely on the medical history of |
| pounds, the same degree of force to just blanch | | | | patient, observed symptoms and chief complaints, |
| the thumbnail of the examiner. In eliciting | | | | physical examination, and a precise manual |
| tenderness, some may do a rolling motion | | | | assessment of tender points because there are |
| palpation while some may use a spring-loaded | | | | no existing laboratory tests for diagnosing |
| pressure gauge called dolorimeter. The former | | | | fibromyalgia. Tenderness pointed in eleven or |
| may be more effective and accurate. The degree | | | | more out of all above mentioned fibromyalgia |
| of tenderness or pain can be quantified but the | | | | pressure points with all over pain in all areas of |
| number of tender point sites is more diagnostic. | | | | the body (upper right, upper left, lower right, |
| As specified by the American College of | | | | lower left) for a duration of three months or |
| Rheumatology criteria, the 18 fibromyalgia | | | | more is the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. |