Piotrovsky Reflex

The Piotrovsky reflex is one of the most famous reflexes in neurology. This reflex was discovered and described by the German neurologist Otto Piotrovsky in 1902.

The Piotrovsky reflex is that when pressing on the skin in the area of ​​the elbow joint, a contraction of the extensor muscles of the forearm occurs. This contraction occurs regardless of the person’s will and is an involuntary reflex.

This reflex plays an important role in the diagnosis of many neurological diseases, such as polyneuropathy, myelopathy and others. It is also used to evaluate the condition of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.

In addition, the Piotrovsky reflex is used in the treatment of certain diseases. For example, in the treatment of polyneuropathy, when the patient experiences muscle weakness, the reflex can be used to improve muscle tone.

Thus, the Piotrovsky reflex is an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of many neurological diseases. It assesses the condition of the spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles, and can also be used to treat certain diseases.

The Piotrovsky reflex is a reflexive movement of the tongue, accompanied by a displacement of the pupils, arising in response to percussion in the extraorbital area on the contralateral side. This movement is observed in neurological diseases (syphilis, polio), neuritis, postencephalic hyperkinesis, lesions of the VIII pair of cranial nerves (syn.: L