NBCE Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

The condition characterized by hypertonicity of muscles, tenderness, and temperature changes of the skin is best represented by trigger points. Trigger points are localized areas within a muscle that are hyper-sensitive and can lead to muscle tightness, or hypertonicity, as well as tenderness upon palpation. These points can cause referred pain and are often associated with alterations in skin temperature due to changes in blood flow and muscle activity.

Increased axoplasmic transport or decreased axoplasmic transport refer to the movement of cellular materials within neurons and are unrelated to the muscular symptoms described in this scenario. While muscle spasms can involve hypertonicity, trigger points specifically encompass the tenderness and skin temperature changes while also being a defined clinical entity within myofascial pain syndromes. Therefore, the correct understanding aligns with trigger points, as they encapsulate the full range of symptoms mentioned.