Jendrassik maneuver

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Jendrassik manoeuvre (Erno Jendrassik, Hungarian physician, 1858–1921) is a medical manoeuvre 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. The elicited response is compared with the reflex result of the same action when the manoeuvre is not in use. Often a larger reflex response will be observed when the patient is occupied with the manoeuvre, as the manoeuvre may prevent the patient from consciously inhibiting or influencing his or her response to the hammer.

This manoeuvre 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 March 23, 2005 episode of the online comic, Dinosaur Comics revolved around the Jendrassik manoeuvre[1].

[edit] See also

• Patellar reflex

[edit] External links

• Diagram
• Photo
• Dorlands/Elsevier m_03/12512316
• Exercise 5
• Niechwiej-Szwedo E, González E, Bega S, Verrier M, Wong A, Steinbach M (2006). "Proprioceptive role for palisade endings in extraocular muscles: evidence from the Jendrassik Maneuver.". Vision Res 46 (14): 2268-79. PMID 16445961.
• Tsuruike M, Koceja D, Yabe K, Shima N (2003). "Age comparison of H-reflex modulation with the Jendrássik maneuver and postural complexity.". Clin Neurophysiol 114 (5): 945-53. PMID 12738442.
• Zehr E, Stein R (1999). "Interaction of the Jendrássik maneuver with segmental presynaptic inhibition.". Exp Brain Res 124 (4): 474-80. PMID 10090659.