String pulse and tight pulse are similar to each other in terms of pressure sensation, which is not easy to distinguish. The difference between the two is mainly in the pulse characteristics, clinical significance of two aspects, specific as follows:
Difference in pulse characteristics: although the String Pulse is similar to the Tight Pulse, the String Pulse feels as if it is pressed on a taut string, or even as if it is pressed on a bowstring or a knife blade, and the end is straight and long; the Tight Pulse is even more taut and powerful than the String Pulse, and the pulse is strong and forceful.
The difference in clinical significance: String Pulse can be seen in healthy elderly people, but also in patients with liver and gallbladder diseases, severe pain, phlegm (a pathological product of impaired water metabolism), and weak stomach qi, which can be seen as Slow String Pulse or Thin String Pulse, while Tight Pulse is usually seen in patients with cold syndrome, severe pain and accumulation of food.