Ever wonder what your doctor is looking for when she pokes and prods during a physical exam, then blinds you with that little flashlight? Most of this abuse is intended to test neural reflexes that yield clues about the state of your nervous system--a good way to diagnose all sorts of health problems because nerve cells and fibers permeate almost every nook and cranny of your body.
Nerve cells are exquisitely sensitive to disturbances from tumors, trauma, circulatory problems, metabolic disorders, and a host of other diseases whose locations can be pinpointed by determining which reflexes show abnormalities.
Here are some simple tests you can try at home:
1.Sit with your right leg crossed over your left and briskly tap the large tendon beneath your kneecap with the handle of a kitchen knife. This tap will pull on your thigh muscle, elongating stretch receptors embedded there, which in turn will ...
