What is the expected reaction when testing for costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness?

The expected reaction when testing for costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness is typically a normal response, which indicates that there is no significant pain or discomfort experienced during the assessment. When a healthcare provider taps or fist-punches the area where the kidneys are located (at the CVA), a healthy individual would usually have no reaction, meaning they don't express pain or tenderness.

In the context of assessing kidney status, if a person has abnormal findings, such as inflammation or an infection, they may experience severe pain or moderate discomfort upon this examination. However, in a normal clinical scenario without any underlying issues, the anticipation is that there will be no reaction. This normal response is important for establishing a baseline for further evaluation if other symptoms are present.