During a routine physical examination, a 45-year-old patient complains of tenderness in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Which of the following palpation techniques should be used to further evaluate the possibility of appendicitis?
Apply deep pressure palpation directly over the site of pain to accurately assess the underlying structures.
Perform serial palpation at 5-minute intervals to identify changes in the level of tenderness over time.
Immediately use rebound tenderness technique over the painful region to confirm the presence of appendicitis.
Begin gentle, graded palpation in the area adjacent to the tender region, progressing carefully towards the point of maximum tenderness.