For a woman with widespread pain and fatigue, what finding is notable in her physical examination?

In a case involving a woman presenting with widespread pain and fatigue, the notable finding during the physical examination is tenderness more pronounced over soft tissues than over joints. This is particularly relevant in the context of fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.

Patients with fibromyalgia typically exhibit tender points or areas of increased sensitivity located in soft tissues rather than within the joints themselves. This tenderness is a hallmark of the condition and distinguishes it from other types of inflammatory arthritis, where joint swelling and pain would be more prominent.

The other options would not typically match the expected physical findings in a case of fibromyalgia. Marked swelling of the joints would suggest an inflammatory arthritis rather than fibromyalgia. A normal range of motion is often seen in fibromyalgia patients, but the presence of significant tenderness in soft tissues is more distinguishing. Lastly, spine rigidity is generally associated with conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis or other forms of arthritis, not with fibromyalgia where joint stiffness is not a primary feature. Thus, the highlighted tenderness in soft tissues effectively underscores the nature of fibromyalgia.