Is the tender point concept valid?

The finding of multiple tender points is essential to the diagnosis of the fibrositis/fibromyalgia syndrome. Recent studies have shown that the tender point count seems to correlate with the presence of fibrositis symptoms, and can distinguish fibrositic from normal subjects. Although tender points are present in normal subjects, fibrositis patients have far more tender points that are much more tender. Further work is necessary to establish the reliability of tender point measurement, and to investigate and monitor changes in the tender point count with time or therapy.