What is the difference between "guarding" and "rigidity" when examining an acute abdomen?

Question

When you are palpating an abdomen that is possibly peritonitic, is there a difference between "guarding" and a "rigid abdomen", or are they just the same thing?

Answer 1

Almost the same. But guarding includes voluntary attempt by patient and rigdity is totally reflex.. In severe cases like pertonitis it is card board rigidity .

Answer 2

Rigid Abdomen

Answer 3

Guarding is an attempt by the patient to prevent painful palpations. Rigidity means the abdominal muscles are firm and do not allow the examining hand to enter.

Answer 4

Guarding is when one is uncosciously protecting protecting the area from being examined touched or pressed upon.

Rigidity is in the muscle walls themselves its an involuntary reflex that makes those muscles tight/tense or hard as a board.

The difference is in guarding one uses a hand/ arm or bent over to protect the affected area. In rigidity once the area is being examined and its noted that its hard or tense.

Answer 5

Guarding mainly refers to contraction of abdominal wall muscles after palpation. The rigidity is before even being touched.
Old Doc

Answer 6

I would say it is the same as being either a good person or a bad person. If you try to be the best that you can and help others if they need help or at least not intentionally hurt someone or their feelings, even if you don't go to church all the time, then you are a good catholic. If you do evil or bad and then "repent" then if you knew you were doing wrong and did it anyway then you are a bad catholic, even if you always repent and go to church and/or active in the church you are still bad

Answer 7

they are just the same thing