Object: The purpose of this study was to establish the normal values of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) tendon reflex in normal Korean adults.

Method: The study for SCM tendon reflex was performed in 41 normal adults using electric reflex hammer. The compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) of SCM muscle were obtained by SCM tendon tapping. From 5 repeated trials of each subject, the shortest latency and the largest peak-to-peak amplitude of CMAP were chosen for the representative value.

Results: Mean values of latency and amplitude were 2.19⁑0.27 msec and 0.70⁑0.38 mV for SCM tendon reflex. There was no significant difference in the latency and amplitude regardless of side or sex (p＞0.05). The age and height showed no signifiant correlation with latency and amplitude of SCM tendon reflex (p＞0.05).

Conclusion: We believe that our results can be used as an evaluation method of upper cervical spinal cord.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the normal values of tendon reflexes (T-reflex) in upper extremities of normal Korean adults.

Method: T-reflex responses were recorded in 30 normal volunteers by delivering tendon taps with a hand operated electric reflex hammer. From 5 repeated trials of each subject, the shortest onset latency and duration, the largest peak to peak amplitude of compound muscle action potentials were chosen for representative values.

Results:

1) There was no significance in the side-to-side differences for all values.

2) Mean values of latency were 13.8⁑1.1 msec in males, 12.4⁑0.9 msec in females for biceps T-reflex and 13.0⁑1.1 msec in males, 11.3⁑1.0 msec in females for triceps T-reflex and there were significant differences between males and females.

3) Height and upper arm length showed a significant positive correlation with biceps and triceps T-reflex latency (p＜0.001).

Conclusion: We believe that our results can be used as a guideline researching the tendon reflexes in upper extremities.

Objective: To investigate the role of tendon reflex test in the diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Method: Patellar tendon reflex (PTR) and achilles tendon reflex (ATR) were recorded in forty six diabetic patients and thirty seven normal adults by delivering tendon taps with an electric reflex hammer. Forty six diabetic patients were divided into two groups based on nerve conduction study and diabetic neuropathy score: group 1 consisted of nineteen patients with peripheral neuropathy, group 2 consisted of twenty seven patients without peripheral neuropathy. Multiple regression equations using latency as a variable dependent on age and height were used and upper crossing of the ⁢3 standard deviation level with regression on height and age was considered abnormal.

Results: Mean latencies of PTR and ATR were prolonged in the diabetic patients in comparison with the controls (p＜0.01) and were prolonged in group 1 compared to group 2. In group 1, PTR was abnormal in 14 cases (sensitivity: 73.6%, specifity: 88%) and ATR was abnormal in 13 cases (sensitivity: 68.4%, specifity: 85.1%). In group 2, PTR was abnormal in 3 cases and ATR was abnormal in 4 cases.

Conclusion: Tendon reflex test would be a valuable supplement to conventional nerve conduction studies for detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, especially in the proximal segment.

The purpose of this study was to establish the normal values of tendon reflex in normal Korean adults. Ankle tendon reflex(ATR), patellar tendon reflex(PTR) and medial hamstring tendon reflex (MHTR) responses were recorded in 96 limbs of 48 normal Korean adults by delivering tendon taps with an electric reflex hammer.

Latency to the onset of the triggered response, peak to peak amplitude and duration of the wave were measured after several repetitions. Minimum latency and duration of the elicited response were chosen to calculate normal means. Side differences were also evaluated. As amplitude showed a marked interindividual variation and side to side variation, lowest recorded value was selected to represent the lower limit of normal.

Mean values of latency, duration and amplitude were 30.27⁑3.18 msec, 11.05⁑1.08 msec and 1.98⁑0.89 mV for ATR, 16.37⁑1.58 msec, 20.63⁑1.68 msec and 1.56⁑0.76 mV for PTR and 20.25⁑2.14 msec, 10.95⁑1.57 msec and 0.71⁑0.56 mV for MHTR. Age, height, and leg length showed significant correlation with the latency of ATR, PTR and MHTR latency(P<0.001).

We believe our results can be used as guideline researches in clinical practice.