Sternocleidomastoid Tendon Reflex in Normal Korean Adults

ABSTRACT

OBJECT The purpose of this study was to establish the normal values of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) tendon reflex in normal Korean adults. METHOD: The study for SCM tendon reflex was performed in 41 normal adults using electric reflex hammer. The compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) of SCM muscle were obtained by SCM tendon tapping. From 5 repeated trials of each subject, the shortest latency and the largest peak-to-peak amplitude of CMAP were chosen for the representative value. RESULTS: Mean values of latency and amplitude were 2.19+/-0.27 msec and 0.70+/-0.38 mV for SCM tendon reflex. There was no significant difference in the latency and amplitude regardless of side or sex (p>0.05). The age and height showed no signifiant correlation with latency and amplitude of SCM tendon reflex (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: We believe that our results can be used as an evaluation method of upper cervical spinal cord.