# Is there any medical value in "testing reflexes"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-medical-value-in-testing-reflexes/219695>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 18, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-medical-value-in-testing-reflexes/219695 "2003-12-18T04:55:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-medical-value-in-testing-reflexes/219695/1 "2003-12-18T04:55:38Z")

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That little thing, where you whack just below the kneecap with a little hammer and their leg jumps…what’s the deal with that? Does the test have any medical value?

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**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-medical-value-in-testing-reflexes/219695/2 "2003-12-18T05:11:21Z")

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If your knee doesn’t jump, there’s probably something wrong with your nerves, so it cues the doctor to check into things.

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-medical-value-in-testing-reflexes/219695/3 "2003-12-18T06:10:47Z")

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Cecil did a column on this. Reflexes are an important part of the neurological exam. Hyperactive reflexes suggest upper motor neuron disorders (stroke, trauma, brain tumour or abcess, multiple sclerosis, etc.); weak reflexes lower motor neuron disorders (myopathies, spinal cord compression, etc.)

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**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-medical-value-in-testing-reflexes/219695/4 "2003-12-18T14:27:10Z")

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[Here](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_100.html) is Cecil’s column on reflexes.

I’ve got fairly sluggish reflexes, but my doctor (and neurologist and neurosurgeon) told me that’s okay as long as they’re the same bilaterally; that is, on both sides.

The knees aren’t the only place a doctor will tap. I’ve had my elbows, achilles’ tendons and wrists tapped. (I’ve got extensive spinal problems; my doc wants to make sure nothing’s getting pinched or compressed.)

Robin

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**Author:** ![RavingMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@RavingMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RavingMad)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-medical-value-in-testing-reflexes/219695/5 "2003-12-18T15:35:59Z")

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Finally! The opportunity (no matter how forced) to share a rather useless factoid that has been wasting valuable space in my brain for over a decade:

The little hammer is called a plexor.

Thank you.