Reflexometry

Reflexometric therapy in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system

Reflexology is one of the ancient treatment methods, which is based on the theory of the nervous mechanism of pain. During the examination, the doctor collects information about the underlying pathology and assesses the state of the nervous system to select the optimal treatment option.

What is reflexometry? Before we start discussing reflexometry, let's first clarify its basic concept and terminology. The term "reflexometry" is a combination of two keywords: "reflexes" and "metry". Reflexes are electrical conductions that occur between points on the surface of the skin when certain stimulations irritate nerve receptors. When the reflex electrodes record this response, we call this process measurement. Thus, “reflexometry” refers to a method for assessing the reflex response in response to a specific signal/stimulation. Reflexometry is used in neurology to test for the presence of a reflex response and study its relative strength. The fact is that the normal nervous system usually responds to certain provoking stimuli with great accuracy and speed. There are different types of reflectometers that allow you to measure various parameters. For example, there are those that measure the speed of excitation propagation along a nerve fiber or the amplitude and frequency of responses to various stimuli. Reflexometry indicators are important diagnostic criteria for various neurological diseases, for example, cerebrovascular accidents or spinal injuries. Each type of reflectometer is used to evaluate specific areas of the central nervous system. How Reflexometry Works In clinical practice, reflexometry can be performed using a variety of methods. Its main components include stimulation of peripheral nerves using electrical, mechanical or optical-electrical stimuli. Electrical stimulation uses electrodes to record patterns of voltage fluctuations in the skin. Mechanical stimulation methods use mechanical devices to create oscillatory movements and compression of tissue in the area where nerve endings are located. Optical methods reflect light waves reflected from the skin, their differentiation can express different levels of excitation of peripheral nerve terminals. The most modern reflectometry systems use computer technology to process and analyze the data obtained. This makes it possible to quantify the stimulation of electrical impulses coming from peripheral organs to the skin. One of the important advantages of using reflexometric techniques is the ability to monitor fluctuations in the electrical activity of nervous tissue in real time. In some cases, the reflex response may be able to predict the effectiveness of a treatment program or drug toxicity. Important that reflexometric data can also be used to study the different sensitivities of nerve receptors in various diseases. This is because the response can vary within the same type of neural receptor tissue, and its interpretation is a difficult problem for reflex therapy. The use of reflectometry continues to be a valuable tool in establishing patient assessment protocols in neurological settings.