Skin sensitivity plays an essential role in our perception of our surrounding. Its intensity is related to soft tissue tension, including skin, muscles and fascias. In order to examine skin sensitivity we mainly assess the patient’s reaction to touch: wincing, complying, or without reaction. The sole of the foot reacts most intensely. Ticklishness of the trunk is frequently found. Exaggerated, insufficient or asymmetrical sensitivity can be altered, „trained“, mainly by stroking. For this the therapist has to sense the reaction of the patient and his tissues, establishing a feed-back relationship. In this way the tonus, i.e. the way the motor system reacts, can be modified.

        Key words: tactile sensitivity, perception, tension