Rebound tenderness physical examination

Rebound tenderness is a clinical sign that a doctor may detect in physical examination of a patient’s abdomen. It refers to pain upon removal of pressure rather than application of pressure to the abdomen. (The latter is referred to simply as abdominal tenderness.) To elicit the sign, gentle pressure is placed on the abdomen and then the hand is lifted suddenly. A sudden increase in abdominal pain occurs when the examiner’s hand is lifted. The other physical examination findings to distinguish rebound tenderness are abdominal tenderness and guarding.

• Blood on rectal exam
• Presence of mass
• Distention
• Cervical or adnexal tenderness
• Bowel sounds
• Shock
• Hypotension
• Guarding

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