Gessl I, Popescu M, Schimpl V, et al. - The present study was performed to evaluate if clinical tenderness can be considered a sign of inflammatory joint activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to assess other possible factors associated with tenderness. Researchers enrolled 34 patients (9 early and 14 long-standing) with RA, 31 patients (7 early and 15 long-standing) with PsA and 30 with OA who had undergone clinical and ultrasound examination of wrists and finger joints. They calculated a binary damage score (positive if ≥ 1 erosion, JSN and/or presence of malalignment). It has been reported that in RA, PsA and OA, tenderness might not always be a sign of active inflammation. Established disease is better explained by joint damage and malalignment, while tenderness in early arthritis may be more related to inflammation.