Testing Wrist Extensor Reflexes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wrist extension involves numerous muscles of the forearm. The tendons of these muscles are located close to each other, allowing wrist extension reflexes to be tested all at once.

Things You'll Need

• Reflex hammer

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Instructions

• 1

  Cradle the patient's arm. Cradle the forearm so that it lies upon yours. The patient's shoulder and elbow should be slightly flexed. The forearm should be pronated, with the palm of the hand facing down.

• 2

  Instruct the patient to relax his wrist on your forearm. The wrist should be held in neutral, neither flexed nor extended, with the palm of the hand lying on your forearm

• 3

  Palpate from the wrist to the elbow along the bone with your free hand. Approximately 3 to 4 inches above the wrist an increase in soft tissue and less bone will be felt. This is the site of the wrist extensor tendons.

• 4

  Strike the extensor tendons using a reflex hammer. The strike should be short, quick and deliberate. While striking the extensor tendons, watch the wrist for a small extension movement. This can also be felt as the patient's hand rising off of the forearm.