clonus

Clonics are when the deep reflex is hyperactive, using a continuous force to make the examined muscles in a tense state, then the muscles involved in the deep reflex will contract rhythmically, called clonus. Common cases include ankle clonus. The patient is instructed to lie supine, with the hip and knee flexed slightly. The doctor holds the patient's lower leg and the patient's foot in front of the patient's foot to force the ankle to overextend. A positive manifestation was the rhythmic contraction of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Significance is the same as deep reflex hyperthyroidism and is seen in pyramidal tract damage.

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