title: A comparison of two methods of eliciting the ankle jerk.
abstract: Two methods of eliciting the ankle jerk have been compared. One, the traditional method, involved tapping the Achilles tendon (the tendon tap); the other (the plantar tap) involved tapping the sole of the foot. The study was done on 110 inpatients in the medical wards of a teaching hospital. The results showed an 89% agreement between the two methods. The extent of agreement was unrelated to the level of experience of the examiner. Forty three per cent of patients favoured the plantar tap method; 14% the tendon tap. The plantar tap method of eliciting the ankle jerk is an acceptable alternative to the traditional method.
authors.affiliation: Concord Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crimmins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joffe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012026:Reflex, Stretch / Q000502:physiology*; D013484:Supination