The Jendrassik maneuver

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Abstract
The mechanism of the Jendrassik maneuver was investigated by observing the effect on the pattern and extent of facilitation of the ankle jerk and H-reflex during a differential block of the fusimotor fibers by procaine injection of the sciatic nerve. The loss or gross suppression of the ankle jerk with relative preservation of the H-reflex was indicative of such a block. It was found that the H-reflex showed a prominent facilitation during this interval in all 5 subjects investigated. As the H-reflex bypasses the spindle mechanism, it was concluded that the Jendrassik maneuver had a direct effect on central excitability. The argument for the mediation of fusimotor firing in the facilitation of the Jendrassik maneuver was not conclusive, but evidence did support its contribution in facilitation of ankel jerk.

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