@inside_injuries: Ever wondered why your leg kicks out when a clinician taps just below your kneecap with a reflex hammer? 🦵 This is called the patellar tendon reflex, and it’s one of the quickest ways to check how well your nervous system is working. When the tendon is tapped, it briefly stretches the quadriceps muscle at the front of your thigh. Inside that muscle are tiny stretch sensors called muscle spindles. The moment they detect the stretch, they send a rapid signal through a sensory nerve to the spinal cord. Instead of waiting for the brain to think about it, the spinal cord immediately sends a motor signal straight back to the quadriceps, telling it to contract. That automatic contraction is what makes your lower leg kick forward - all happening in a split second and completely without conscious control. So why do clinicians test this? Because this simple movement checks the entire reflex pathway, including: • The muscle and tendon • The sensory and motor nerves • The spinal cord levels in the lower back (L2-L4) If the reflex is normal, the pathway is likely healthy. If it’s reduced or absent, it could suggest nerve damage, muscle problems, or issues affecting the spinal cord at that level. If it’s overly strong, it may indicate reduced control from the brain, sometimes seen with upper motor neuron problems. In short: A tiny tap → a quick stretch → an automatic spinal cord response → your leg kicks. Simple, fast, and incredibly useful for assessing neurological health. #injuryrehab #injurycheck #neuro #physio #physicaltherapy

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Thursday 19 February 2026 17:15:58 GMT