The epidemiology of tender points: a prospective study of 1520 patients.

Tender point examinations were performed on 1520 consecutive patients with various rheumatic diseases. The mean tender point count was 2.1 (3.6 SD). Four or more tender points were found in 22.9%, 7 or more in 13.6%, 12 or more 4.3%, but 60.1% had no tender points. The tender point count increased gradually with age, reaching a maximum at age 70. Women had more tender points than men, Caucasians more than blacks or Hispanics. Isolated regional clusters of tender points occurred at the shoulder girdle in 7.8%, and the knees in 7.4%. Correlation between tender points and associated peripheral joint tenderness was poor.