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Hi, I have graduated from Podiatry two years ago. However, there are many things that I seem to do ritually, that I have forgotten WHY it works :confused: :D

For example, today I was assessing a new patient's reflexes and when I saw no knee extension, I immediately told her to clench her hands together and pull as hard as she could in the opposite direction. This time, the reflex was noticeable. It wasn't until later that I questioned myself and asked, "Why is the reflex better when gripping your hands?" Could anyone refresh my memory?

Thanks in advance. :)

 

Its called the Jendrassik maneuver.

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jendrassik_maneuver

 

The Jendrassik maneuver is a physiologic mechanism where the excitability of the alpha motor neurons of the stretch reflex is increased by voluntary contraction of the upper extremity muscles so that a larger than normal tendon jerk reflex is elicited at the patellar tendon. Here's a nice review of the physiology of reflexes for your review http://www.unmc.edu/Physiology/Mann/mann15.html

 

Ah, yes. The Jendrassik maneuver would be it. Thanks for the refresher and the provided links . Wow, that was a blast from the past!

 

No-one has ever been able to elicit a patellar reflex from me...might try that one next time and see if it makes a difference!

 

It works!

I have a knee reflex!!

 

fantastic........"one foot"'s alive and kicking..........that's made my day