Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the normal values of tendon reflexes (T-reflex) in upper extremities of normal Korean adults.

Method: T-reflex responses were recorded in 30 normal volunteers by delivering tendon taps with a hand operated electric reflex hammer. From 5 repeated trials of each subject, the shortest onset latency and duration, the largest peak to peak amplitude of compound muscle action potentials were chosen for representative values.

Results:

1) There was no significance in the side-to-side differences for all values.

2) Mean values of latency were 13.8⁑1.1 msec in males, 12.4⁑0.9 msec in females for biceps T-reflex and 13.0⁑1.1 msec in males, 11.3⁑1.0 msec in females for triceps T-reflex and there were significant differences between males and females.

3) Height and upper arm length showed a significant positive correlation with biceps and triceps T-reflex latency (p＜0.001).

Conclusion: We believe that our results can be used as a guideline researching the tendon reflexes in upper extremities.

Keywords :Tendon reflexes in upper extremities, Electric reflex hammer, Normal values