# Pinching the thigh above the knee cap. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339 "2016-04-16T06:08:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/1 "2016-04-16T06:08:58Z")
When I grew up, siblings would pinch the thigh muscle above the knee caps to elicit a sensation. And other people (outside the family) would have the same response. Are you familiar with this? Well, here in México, I have used the same action, and people don’t react. It is in the genes? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/2 "2016-04-16T07:39:24Z")
It used to be known as “dead-legging” when I was in primary school, provided whoever it was hit the right nerve. Whether Mexican nerves are placed differently, or are less sensitive, I wouldn’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/3 "2016-04-16T11:55:23Z")
What’s it supposed to feel like? Similar to when you hit the ulnar nerve? Count me in with the Mexicans on feeling nothing special. Or maybe I’m not pinching the right spot. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/4 "2016-04-16T12:39:04Z")
I don’t think the OP means dead-legging (which is schoolby brutal). Rather a more tickling sensation with a gentle massaging pinch just across the quadriceps femoris tendon. If that is what is meant, down here in Oz, at least a few of us know it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/5 "2016-04-16T14:04:51Z")
It’s a highly ticklish spot… if you hit it exactly right. But get it just a little bit off, even on the same person, and nothing. My uncle was very good at it, but I’ve never quite gotten the knack. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/6 "2016-04-16T14:37:17Z")
My wife calls this “Porkchop!” ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/7 "2016-04-16T14:41:21Z")
Some people seem to be immune to this and other people are highly sensitive. I used to love to do this to a friend of mine who was so skinny I could basically wrap my entire hand around his thigh above the knee, his reaction was priceless. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/8 "2016-04-16T14:52:09Z")
We did that to each other when we were kids. We called it a “horse bite.” I haven’t heard of (or thought about) it in many years. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/9 "2016-04-16T15:22:15Z")
I do it to my kids all the time. It’s called a “dog bite” around these parts. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/10 "2016-04-30T15:25:52Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > We did that to each other when we were kids. We called it a “horse bite.” I haven’t heard of (or thought about) it in many years. Agreed. My father (born in '34) always said “This is where the horse bites the corn!” and then do it. Always got me. Me? I’m hit or miss. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/11 "2016-04-30T16:25:33Z")
To answer the OP, no, Mexicans are not immune from tickling.