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Cited by 64Peripheral Nerve DisordersNeurology and Historical StudiesClinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills

The deep tendon and the abdominal reflexes

Open access
Dick, J P R·2003·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
DOI 10.1136/jnnp.74.2.150PMC PMC1738294
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Abstract

The deep tendon reflexes (and the abdominal reflexes) are important physical signs which have a special place in neurological diagnosis, particularly in early disease when they alone may be abnormal. They act as "hard" signs in situations where clinical assessment is complicated by patient anxiety, and become more useful as clinical experience develops.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1136/jnnp.74.2.150

Cites

45 of 45 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The absence of reflexes is a common phenomenon observed among elderly subjects.

    “The absence of reflexes was also noted in two individuals of the oldest age group (52–64 years old) in this study, which is reportedly a common phenomenon observed among elderly subjects [3], [5].”

    From Influence of Age on Patellar Tendon Reflex Response (2013) · cites this paper as [5]

    The CLINICAL section says that although absent ankle jerks have been suggested to be normal in the elderly, only 6% of normal subjects over 65 have them. The ABDOMINAL REFLEXES section says those reflexes can be difficult to elicit in elderly people, but does not describe their absence as common. The cited paper therefore does not support calling absent reflexes a common phenomenon, particularly for the study’s 52–64-year-old group. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • The deep tendon reflex (DTR) test is widely used as an initial exam to identify potential neurological problems and to assess the severity of neurological disease.

    “The deep tendon reflex (DTR) test is widely used as an initial exam to identify the presence of potential neurological problems and to assess the severity of neurological disease1, 2).”

    From Clinical availability of the deep tendon reflex test using a novel apparatus in healthy subjects (2015) · cites this paper as [2]

    The opening passage describes deep tendon reflexes as important diagnostic signs, especially in early disease, and section E calls eliciting them a main component of neurological examination. The Clinical section describes grading reflex intensity and changes as corticospinal pathology progresses, but it does not establish that the test assesses the severity of neurological disease generally; it also cautions that reflexes can mislead when used alone. Our copy provides no page number for these passages. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Elderly individuals have reduced reflex responses.

    “In addition, the elderly have been found to have reduced reflex responses 9,10 .”

    From Motion Analysis of Normal Patellar Tendon Reflex (2013) · cites this paper as [10]

    The ABDOMINAL REFLEXES section says these responses are difficult to elicit in elderly people. The CLINICAL section discusses absent ankle jerks in older adults but notes that only 6% of normal subjects over 65 have them. These passages support an age-related difficulty with particular reflexes, not a general reduction in reflex responses. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The efficacy of the Jendrassik manoeuvre has been statistically proven.

    “Though JM was practised widely in clinical neurology and its efficacy was statistically proven 10,11 , the magnitude of its impact on tendon reflex was not previously measured.”

    From Motion Analysis of Normal Patellar Tendon Reflex (2013) · cites this paper as [10]

    The CLINICAL section says the Jendrassik manoeuvre can reinforce difficult-to-elicit reflexes by making motor neurones more excitable. It does not present statistical results or state that its efficacy was statistically proven. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Males have higher reflex response compared to females.

    “A previous study on the effect of gender found higher reflex response in males compared to females 10 .”

    From Motion Analysis of Normal Patellar Tendon Reflex (2013) · cites this paper as [10]

    The ABDOMINAL REFLEXES section says abdominal reflexes can be difficult to elicit in multiparous women, but it does not compare male and female reflex responses. The CLINICAL section discusses other sources of reflex variability without reporting a sex difference; searches for gender, males and females found no such comparison in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.72)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [2]2. Louis ED, Kaufmann P. Erbs explanation for the tendon reflexes. Arch Neurol 1996;53:1187-9.
  2. [14]14. Cowan JMA, Day BL, Marsden C, et al. Percutaneous motor cortex stimulation. J Physiol (Lond) 1986;377:334-47.

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Authors
Dick, J. P. R.
Affiliations
Salford Royal Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Dick, J P R
Venue
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2003-02-01
Volume
74
Issue
2
Pages
150-153
ISSN
0022-3050 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1136/jnnp.74.2.150
PMC
PMC1738294
OpenAlex
W2077480924
Cited by
64
References
45
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
FWCI
1.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Peripheral Nerve Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurology and Historical Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
Keywords
deep tendon reflexes, abdominal reflexes, neurological diagnosis, physical signs, early disease detection, clinical evaluation, patient anxiety
MeSH terms
Central Nervous System Diseases, Cerebral Cortex, Humans, Neurologic Examination, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases, Peripheral Nerves, Reaction Time, Reflex, Abdominal, Reflex, Abnormal, Reflex, Stretch, Sensitivity and Specificity, Spinal Cord

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