What characterizes flat palpation techniques when assessing trigger points?

Flat palpation techniques are characterized by applying pressure in a way that distributes the force evenly across the surface area of the muscle, specifically over the trigger point. This technique focuses on achieving a broad contact with the tissue rather than isolating specific structures or pinpointing areas. When you're pushing down flat over the trigger point, you allow for a pressure that can help engage the muscle fibers and promote a response from the trigger point, which is essential for identifying areas of tenderness and tightness.

Using fingertips, as suggested in one of the other options, typically implies a more focused pressure that may not effectively assess larger trigger points or muscle areas. Similarly, using the heel of the hand provides a broader surface area than fingertips, but it may not adequately facilitate the flat, penetrating pressure necessary for true flat palpation. Pincering the muscle introduces a lifting motion, which diverges from the flat palpation technique since it focuses more on isolating and lifting specific parts of the tissue rather than assessing it with flat pressure.