New from PubMed:

Researchers from the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Firat University in Elazig, Turkey assessed the validity of an enthesitis index calculated by algometric pressure pain threshold scoring compared with digital palpation scoring, and the reliability of two grading methods of the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES). Enthesitis is an inflammation of the entheses, the point of insertion of tendons or ligaments to bone. It is a characteristic feature of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a degenerative inflammatory arthritis of the spine and sacroiliac joints, as well as other spondyloarthropathies. The study examined 546 entheses in AS patients in regions proposed by MASES. Tenderness scores were graded on a four-point scale after palpation with the thumb, and again using a mechanical algometer. The researchers concluded from their study results that algometric scoring does not have significant advantages over digital palpation, which is a more convenient, practical, and reliable method for enthesitis assessment.

Read the full abstract on PubMed