Clonus

Clonus is the rhythmic contraction of one muscle or group of muscles in response to sudden touch, followed by a state of tension. Most often, clonus is observed in the muscles of the leg, when the doctor sharply deviates the patient’s foot upward, and then holds it in this position, applying upward pressure to the sole.

Clonus is associated with an exaggerated muscle stretch reflex and usually indicates a disorder of the brain or spinal cord. Thus, the presence of clonus may indicate damage to the central nervous system, for example, in multiple sclerosis, spastic forms of cerebral palsy, or after a stroke. Doctors use the clonus test as part of a neurological examination to diagnose and evaluate the severity of nervous system disorders.

Clonus is a rhythmic contraction of one muscle or group of muscles that occurs in response to unexpected touch, after which the muscle remains taut. Most often, clonus manifests itself in the lower leg muscles when the patient's foot suddenly deviates upward and is held in this position by a doctor who applies upward pressure to the foot.

Clonus is associated with an increased muscle stretch reflex, which usually indicates diseases of the brain or spinal cord, such as multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, polio and other diseases.

With clonus, the muscle contracts and tightens in response to light touch, which may be due to disruption of nerve conduction or damage to nerve fibers.

Diagnosis of clonus includes a neurological examination, reflex testing, and electrophysiological studies. Depending on the diagnostic results, additional testing may be required to determine the cause of clonus.

Treatment for clonus depends on the cause and may include medication, physical therapy, and surgery.

Clonus is the rhythmic contraction of one or more muscle fibers or muscle groups in response to an external stimulus and its subsequent state of tension. It occurs as a result of rapid and unexpected irritation of muscle receptors, which can occur in various disease conditions. Most often, clonus occurs in the lower leg muscle group.