ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION. In most post-stroke patients, an increase in muscle tone on the hemiplegic side is accompanied by a revival of tendon reflexes and an expansion of their reflexogenic zone, as well as the appearance of specific abnormal reflexes. All these signs have long been considered when diagnosing damage to the pyramidal system in diseases of the spinal cord and brain, but their rehabilitation significance has not yet been considered. 

AIM. To study and systematize abnormal reflexes — a group of motor automatisms characteristic of damage to the central nervous system, and to evaluate the possibility of using them to optimize rehabilitation methods. 

CONCLUSION. Based on literature data, the clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of known abnormal reflexes were assessed. It is concluded that it is possible to use lively tendon reflexes, as well as tonic reflexes of the foot and hand (Babinsky and its analogues, Mayer’s, Klippel-Feil, Larry`s reflexes) in rehabilitation practice. The role of phasic abnormal hand and foot reflexes (Rossolimo’s sign and its analogues) in the rehabilitation process is considered insignificant due to their short duration. 

KEYWORDS: abnormal reflexes, hyperreflexia, Babinski reflex, Rossolimo’s sign, rehabilitation

For citation: Petrov K.B., Mitichkina T.V., Ivonina N.A. Abnormal Reflexes and their Rehabilitation Significance: Short Communication. Comorbidity Neurology. 2024; 1 (1): 88–92. https://doi.org/10.62505/3034-185x-2024-1-88-92  (In Russ.)

*For correspondence: Konstantin B. Petrov, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Physical Therapy, Novokuznetsk State Institute of Further Training of Physicians — Branch Campus of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Novokuznetsk, Russia, e-mail: 79059109919@yandex.ru.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Konstantin B. Petrov, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Physical Therapy, Novokuznetsk State Institute of Further Training of Physicians — Branch Campus of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Novokuznetsk, Russia. E-mail: 79059109919@yandex.ru. ORСID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6246-8811

Tatiana V. Mitichkina, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy, Novokuznetsk State Institute of Further Training of Physicians — Branch Campus of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Novokuznetsk, Russia. E-mail:tanya_mi2005@mail.ru. ORСID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6510-0369

Natalya A. Ivonina, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy, Novokuznetsk State Institute of Further Training of Physicians — Branch Campus of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Novokuznetsk, Russia. E-mail: nan64@mail.ru. ORСID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8713-4532 

Author contributions. All authors confirm the compliance of their authorship, according to international ICMJE criteria (all authors made a significant contribution to the development of the concept, research and preparation of the article, read and approved the final version before publication). Mitichkina T.V. — carried out a search of literary sources; Petrov K.B. — summarized the material and wrote the text of the article; Ivonina N.A. — proofread the manuscript and adapted it to the requirements of the journal’s editors. 

Funding. This study was not supported by any external sources of funding.

Disclosure. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

The content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

©2024. Konstantin B. Petrov, Tatiana V. Mitichkina, Natalya A. Ivonina