Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.15268/ksim.2022.10.4.137

Inter-Rater Reliability of the Deep Tendon Reflex by using EMG Electric Reflex Hammer  

Lee, Jeong-Woo (Dept. of Physical Therapy, Kwangju Women's University)
Seo, Tae-Hwa (Dept. of Physical Therapy, Kwangju Women's University)
Publication Information
Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine / v.10, no.4, 2022 , pp. 137-143 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability analysis of the deep tendon reflex by using electromyography (EMG). Methods : The study was tested on 30 volunteers who are women in their 20s. Using an electronic reflective hammer of EMG, deep tendon reflex was measured on all subjects with the participation of three trained physical therapists as raters. First, the subjects were comfortably seated on a table with their knees bent at 90 °. The three raters tapped the electric hammer at intervals of 10 seconds to avoid habituation until a total of 10 compound muscle action potential records were collected. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess the inter-rater reliability of the deep tendon reflex with the use of EMG. The items of analysis included amplitude (mV), latency (ms), duration (ms), and area (mV × ms) of the compound evoked potentials. Results : Based on the average records of 10 compound muscle action potential, excellent reliability (ICC: .912) was achieved in terms of area, and there was good reliability in terms of latency (ICC: .795) and duration (ICC: .800). In the shortest latency of the compound muscle action potential, good reliability was achieved in terms of amplitude (ICC: .865), duration (ICC: .781), and area (ICC: .832). In the amplitude of peak-to-peak of compound muscle action potential, excellent reliability was recorded in terms of amplitude (ICC: .924), and good reliability was recorded in terms of duration (ICC: .801) and area (ICC: .874). Conclusion : The findings in this study indicate that electromyography via an electric hammer is a reliable method of assessing and measuring deep tendon reflexes. Especially, it may be an excellent gauge in the area of average values of the compound muscle action potentials and the amplitude of peak-to-peak of compound muscle action potentials.
Keywords
compound muscle action potential; deep tendon reflex; EMG; intra-rater reliability; patellar tendon reflex;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Kim YW(2001). Effects of therapeutic electrical stimulation of sensory nerve pathway on spasticity in patients. Graduate school of Yonsei University, Republic of Korea, Master's thesis.
2 Kim YW, Weon JH(2007). Inter-rater reliability of quantitative knee tendon reflex test for healthy subjects. Phys Ther Korea, 14(3), 57-63.
3 Koo TK, Li MY(2016). A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. J Chiropr Med, 15(2), 155-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.02.012.   DOI
4 Litvan I, Mangone CA, Werden W, et al(1996). Reliability of the NINDS myotatic reflex scale. Neurology, 47(4), 969-972. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.47.4.969.   DOI
5 Dick JPR(2003). The deep tendon and the abdominal reflexes. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 74(2), 150-153. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.74.2.150.   DOI
6 Kim YW(2015). Clinical availability of the deep tendon reflex test using a novel apparatus in healthy subjects. J Phys Ther Sci, 27(2), 317-320. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.317.   DOI
7 Pereon Y, Tich SNT, Fournier E, et al(2004). Electrophysiological recording of deep tendon reflexes: normative data in children and in adults. Neurophysiol Clin, 34(3-4), 131-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2004.04.005.   DOI
8 Kareem SK, Dilara K, Maruthy KN, et al(2021). Characterization of the patellar tendon reflex response using an indigenously developed system and implementation of a strategic protocol to assess its clinical usefulness. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health, 12, Printed Online. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100881.   DOI
9 Lees AJ, Hurwitz B(2019). Testing the reflexes. BMJ, 366, Printed Online. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4830.   DOI
10 Salazar-Munoz Y, Lopez-Perez GA, Garica-Caballero BE, et al(2019). Classification and assessment of the patelar reflex response through biomechanical measures. J Healthc Eng, 2019, Printed Online. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1614963.   DOI
11 Steineman BD, Karra P, Park K(2016). Assessment of patellar tendon reflex responses using second-order system characteristics. Appl Bionics Biomech, 2016, Printed Online. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7172948.   DOI
12 Tsuji H, Misawa H, Takigawa T, et al(2021). Quantification of patellar tendon reflex using portable mechanomyography and electromyography devices. Sci Rep, 27(11), Printed Online. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81874-5.   DOI