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Preliminary findings on increased muscle tension and tenderness, and recurrent abdominal pain in children. A clinical study
Author(s) -
Alfvén Gosta
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1993.tb12706.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tenderness , abdominal pain , abdominal muscles , physical examination , muscle tension , physical therapy , surgery
Recurrent abdominal pain of “non‐organic origin” is a common pediatric problem. In most instances it is related to psychological factors. The origin of the pain itself, however, is still unknown. In this study, we question whether or not the complaint could have a muscular origin. In this clinical study of recurrent abdominal pain of probable “psychosomatic origin”, all 27 children had tense and tender abdominal muscles, which was not the case in a control group. The children with recurrent abdominal pain also had a typical pattern of muscular tension and tenderness in other muscles. These children often have tension headache, “tension” chest pains and also more general symptoms such as loss of appetite and disturbed bowel function.