Reflex Examination Reflex Examination Reflexes commonly measured include the jaw jerk, biceps, triceps, radial, knee, ankle, plantar and superficial skin responses. Heightened responses are called hyperreflexia, decreased responsivity is hyporeflexia.
Tone is difficult to quantify and is dependent on the skill and experience of the examiner.
Reflexes, tone and strength provide information regarding the nervous system from the cerebrum to the sacral cord and help distinguish central from peripheral injury. Injury alters automatic patterned behaviors. With injury there may be a decreased amount of movement i.e., hypokinesia, or an increased amount of movement i.e., hyperkinesia.