Pronator teres reflex: reliability and normal value

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1996 Sep-Oct;75(5):328-31. doi: 10.1097/00002060-199609000-00003.

Abstract

The pronator reflex has been used clinically and electrophysiologically to evaluate the sixth and seventh cervical roots (C-6, C-7). This has been proven to be the result of stretching the pronator teres muscle. We examined 25 healthy individuals with surface electromyogram to establish electrophysiologically the reproducibility and reliability of this reflex, in addition to finding the 95% confidence interval (C.I.) for the latency for both males and females and to correlate it with the arm length. Standard procedure was used for all people. To elicit the pronator teres reflex, the volar report of the distal radius was struck by the hammer with the forearm in neutral position and the elbow flexed at 90 degrees. The response was pronation of the forearm. A reproducible diphasic response was found in all individuals. The mean latency was 15.9 (+/-1.3) ms with the 95% C.I. 16.8 for females and 17.4 (+/- 1.4) ms with the 95% C.I. 18.7 for males. The data were collected to be used for further evaluation of C-6, C-7 radiculopathy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arm / physiology*
  • Electrodes
  • Electromyography
  • Electrophysiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pronation / physiology*
  • Reference Values
  • Reflex / physiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results