Marinesku-Giršberg Symptom

The Marinesco-Girdlestone sign is a reflex response that manifests itself in the form of contraction of the muscles of the limbs and torso when pressing on the area above the elbow joint. This phenomenon was first described in 1920 by Romanian neurologist Georges Marinescu and American physician Ludwig Hirschberg.

The symptom is named after the two scientists who independently described it. Moreover, the symptom is also known by other names such as Hirschberg reflex or Marinescu reflex.

The mechanism for the occurrence of the symptom is that when pressure is applied to the supra-elbow area, the nerve endings are irritated, which leads to the activation of the reflex arc. As a result, the muscles contract and the person experiences a feeling of discomfort and pain in the area above the elbows.

The Marinescu-Hirshberg symptom is an important diagnostic sign of many diseases of the nervous system. For example, it may indicate the presence of multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, spinal cord injury and other diseases.

However, we should not forget that the Marinescu-Hirshberg symptom can be caused by other reasons, for example, spasm of the arm muscles after physical activity or stress. Therefore, if this symptom appears, you must consult a doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.