Jendrassik maneuver
Encyclopedia
The Jendrassik maneuver is a medical maneuver wherein the patient flexes both sets of fingers into a hook-like form and interlocks those sets of fingers together. The tendon below the patient's knee is then hit with a reflex hammer
to elicit the patellar reflex
. The elicited response is compared with the reflex result of the same action when the maneuver is not in use. Often a larger reflex response will be observed when the patient is occupied with the maneuver, as the maneuver may prevent the patient from consciously inhibiting or influencing his or her response to the hammer. This effect was first observed in the late 19th century by Hungarian physician Erno Jendrassik
, whom it was named after.
This maneuver is particularly useful in that even if the patient is aware that the interlocking of fingers is just a distraction in order to elicit a larger reflex response, it still functions properly.
The maneuver can also be used to distract patients when performing other tests or procedures, for example when looking for Romberg's sign, and any suitable distraction may be used.
Reflex hammer
A reflex hammer is a medical instrument used by physicians to test deep tendon reflexes. Testing for reflexes is an important part of the neurological physical examination in order to detect abnormalities in the central or peripheral nervous system....
to elicit the patellar reflex
Patellar reflex
The patellar reflex or knee-jerk is a deep tendon reflex and is a myotatic reflex.-Mechanism:Striking the patellar tendon with a tendon hammer just below the patella stretches the sensory nerve fiber of the femoral nerve which synapses at the level of L4 in the spinal cord, completely independent...
. The elicited response is compared with the reflex result of the same action when the maneuver is not in use. Often a larger reflex response will be observed when the patient is occupied with the maneuver, as the maneuver may prevent the patient from consciously inhibiting or influencing his or her response to the hammer. This effect was first observed in the late 19th century by Hungarian physician Erno Jendrassik
Erno Jendrassik
Jendrassik Ernő was a Hungarian physician best known for his research on reflexes, in particular, the Jendrassik maneuver....
, whom it was named after.
This maneuver is particularly useful in that even if the patient is aware that the interlocking of fingers is just a distraction in order to elicit a larger reflex response, it still functions properly.
The maneuver can also be used to distract patients when performing other tests or procedures, for example when looking for Romberg's sign, and any suitable distraction may be used.
