Neurological examination for determining muscle tone in newborns
Arm recoil is a neurological examination of neonate for detecting the muscle tone.
Procedure.
The baby is placed supine, with forearm flexed at elbow. The elbow (forearm) is extended by pulling the hand; then released.
Observation.
How quickly the forearm returns to flexed original position and the amount of flexion will designate a score.
Conclusions.
The greater the tone development (flexor tone), the brisker the recoil will be. This correlates to more advanced gestational age on the Ballard Scale.
Leg recoil can be assessed following the same principle.
References.
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