The head of a reflex hammer is made of rubber. This helps to ensure that it does not hurt when the hammer taps a tendon.
Ankle Knee Abdomen Forearm Biceps Triceps
For instance, if you want to test knee reflexes, you have to tap on the patellar tendon. This tendon is located just below the knee cap. Feel the bottom of the knee cap and, if necessary, have the person move their knee to make the tendon more visible.
If you are testing the bicep, allow the person to sit down and rest their arm in their lap. In this position the elbow should be bent a bit more than 90 degrees.
It may be difficult for you to get the reflex hammer into the proper position to test certain reflexes. For example, the achilles tendon would be difficult to test on your own body. Testing your own reflexes is a good way to practice your technique for reflex testing. If you have tried to test your reflexes yourself and you now have concerns about your health, go to a doctor to have the test done again. Having a doctor do reflex testing on you is more reliable than you doing it on yourself.
Holding the hammer lightly ensures that you do not apply too much force when you tap the tendon.
If you have a weighted hammer, it is designed to create sufficient force when it is dropped from a distance of 10 to 12 centimetres (3. 9 to 4. 7 in). You do not want to add additional force. Gravity will do the work. [4] X Research source
This condition usually indicates a malfunction in communication in the spinal cord.
Having no response to tendon stimulation is called hyporeflexia. [7] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
0 is no response 1 is a slight response 2 is a normal, quick response 3 is a very brisk response 4 is an abnormal repeating reflex
Some medical conditions that can cause poor muscle reflexes include multiple sclerosis, diabetes, alcoholism, amyloidosis, uremia, vitamin deficiencies, toxin poisoning, and certain cancers. [11] X Research source
