C5 + C6: Biceps Tendon Reflex

Execution:

  1. The patient is in sitting or supine position
  2. The elbow is bent to around 90° and the patient should be completely relaxed
  3. The examiner presses their thumb perpendicular on the patient’s biceps tendon
  4. The examiner swings the reflex hammer with a loose wrist and hits their own thumb on the proximal phalanx

 

Positive Outcome: Diminished reflex activity compared to the other side, which indicates a lower motor neuron lesion

 

Study

Reliability

Sn Sp LR+

LR-

Wainner et al. (2003)

Inter к= 0.73

24 95 4.9

0.8