The Jendrassik maneuver is a medical maneuver wherein the patient clenches the teeth, 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: "A weak or apparently missing reflex could be triggered by afferent activity resulting from such muscle tension. This is the true explanation for the maneuver, not a diversion of the patient’s attention – a misconception that can be heard even today."[1] This effect was first observed in the late 19th century by Hungarian physician Ernő Jendrassik, after whom it was named.

The Jendrassik maneuver to reinforce knee-jerk.

This maneuver is particularly useful in that even if the patient is aware of the maneuver's purpose, it still functions properly.[2]

The maneuver can also be used to distract patients when performing other tests or procedures and any suitable distraction may be used; for example when looking for Romberg's sign.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Pásztor, E. (March 1, 2004). "Erno Jendrassik (1858?1921)". Journal of Neurology. 251 (3): 366–367. doi:10.1007/s00415-004-0394-3. ISSN 0340-5354. PMID 15015025. S2CID 26450843.
  2. ^ Koehler, Peter J.; Bruyn, George W.; Pearce, John M. S. (2000). Neurological Eponyms. Oxford University Press. p. 146. ISBN 9780198030591. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  3. ^ Vereeck L, Truijen S, Wuyts FL, Van de Heyning PH (January 2007). "The dizziness handicap inventory and its relationship with functional balance performance". Otology & Neurotology. 28 (1): 87–93. doi:10.1097/01.mao.0000247821.98398.0d. PMID 17195749. S2CID 9373805.

Further reading

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