The history of reflex hammers
Open accessAbstract
Following the simultaneous description of muscle stretch reflexes by Heinrich Erb and Carl Westphal in 1875, neurologists used direct finger taps or chest percussion hammers to elicit these phenomena.Because of inadequacies of chest percussion hammers for eliciting muscle stretch reflexes, a variety of hammers were developed specifically for this purpose.In 1888, J. Madison Taylor, working for S. Weir Mitchell at the Philadelphia Orthopedic Hospital, designed the first such "reflex hammer."Taylor's hammer had a triangular rubber head and a short, flattened metal handle.Krauss (1894), Berliner (1910), Troemner (1910), Babinski (1912), and Wintle (1925) also designed popular reflex hammers.Many of these hammers and several others are still in use.
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Berliner and Troemner suggested that an ideal instrument should be heavier to facilitate a brief but forceful percussion without eliciting pain and striking the tendon over a large surface.
“Berliner and Troemner then suggested that an ideal instrument should be heavier to facilitate a brief but forceful percussion without eliciting pain and striking the tendon over a large surface.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
Tendons were best struck directly, leading to the development of softer rubber striking surfaces and a more refined technique.
“Tendons were best struck directly, leading to the development of softer rubber striking surfaces and a more refined technique.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
The early percussion hammers were too light and produced inconsistent results.
“The early percussion hammers were too light and produced inconsistent results.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
The Queen Square hammer resulted in a heavy, springy and completely painless hammer.
“This resulted in a heavy, springy and completely painless hammer.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
The Krauss hammer is one of the earliest hammers to allow for testing sensation and reflexes.
“This is also one of the earliest hammers to allow for testing sensation and reflexes.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
The Troemner hammer's smaller head is used for percussion of flexor tendons such as biceps humeri, biceps femoris and semitendinosus.
“The smaller head is used for percussion of flexor tendons such as biceps humeri, biceps femoris and semitendinosus.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
Dr Taylor believed that a rigid handle allowed better control as the elastic handle produced inconsistent force.
“Dr Taylor believed that a rigid handle allowed better control as the elastic handle produced inconsistent force.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
The Troemner hammer's large head is designed for large tendons of extensor surfaces such as patellar, Achilles and triceps reflexes, and also to elicit periosteal and joint reflexes.
“The large head is designed for large tendons of extensor surfaces such as patellar, Achilles and triceps reflexes, and also to elicit periosteal and joint reflexes.”
From Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
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Deep Tendon Reflex: The Tools and Techniques. What Surgical Neurology Residents Should Know
Lin-Wei, O., Sang Xian, L. L., Wei Shen, V. T., Yong Chuan, C., Abdul Halim, S., Ghani, A. R. I., Idris, Z., & Abdullah, J. M. (2021) · Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences · doi:10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.5 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
- Authors
- Lanska, D. J.
- Corresponding author
- Lanska, Douglas J.
- ORCID
- Lanska, Douglas J.
- Venue
- Neurology
- Published
- 2011-04-05
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 14
- Pages
- 1221-1221
- ISSN
- 0028-3878 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-632X
- OpenAlex
- W4245892737
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Neurology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurology and Historical Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › History of Medical Practice
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Medical History and Innovations
- Keywords
- history of neurology, stretch reflex, S. Weir Mitchell, instrument design
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