Achilles tendon reflex time

English

Etymology

First use appears c. 1934 in medical literature, although the exact date of its first use is uncertain.

Noun

Achilles tendon reflex time (countable and uncountable, plural Achilles tendon reflex times)

1. (medicine, endocrinology) A measurement of the half-relaxation time of the Achilles tendon, used to diagnose disorders of the thyroid.

   Synonym: (initialism) ART

   • 1934, Robert Sessions Woodworth (editor), Archives of Psychology - Issue 172, page 6:

     As an example, reference might be made to the work of Rounds (55), who sought to determine the relation between Achilles tendon reflex time and the speed of mental reactions ...

   • 1960, Singapore Medical Association, Singapore Medical Journal - Volume 10, page 9:

     Although the Achilles tendon reflex time has been generally accepted as a useful confirmatory sign in thyroid dysfunction, its value as a diagnostic test has only been explored recently.

   • 1963, Pennsylvania State University, Proceedings of a Conference Held in Buxton, England, June 5-6, 1963, page 267:

     In man this was evidenced by the close correlation between variation in pre-treatment levels of serum cholesterol in 600 patients (in the multicentre Atromid trial) and the variation in Achilles tendon reflex time (a measure of thyroid function) in 30 normal men studied over the same period.

   • 1965, T. S. Danowski, Outline of Endocrine Gland Syndromes, page 73:

     The measurement of Achilles tendon reflex time by recording devices such as the Photomotograph or Kinometer has been suggested as a simple screening test for for thyrotoxicosis.

   • 1974, Savitri Ramcharan (editor), Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study, A Prospective Study of the Side Effects of Oral Contraceptives, Volume 1, page 92:

     Achilles-tendon-reflex-time was measured by a Thyrochron 100, a photoelectric instrument that included a two-digit numerical readout of reflex duration in hundredths of a second.

   • 1975, NASA, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports, Volume 13, Issues 7-12, page 1290:

     The Achilles tendon reflex time was recorded in the morning, at midday, and in the evening during five days in 18 normal sedentary subjects.

   • 1979, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Technical Memorandum, page 13:

     The data show the predicted postflight change in the Achilles tendon reflex time. For the first time since the tendon reflex measurement was introdouced, postflight tremor was documented.

   • 1981, International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, Volume 19, page 695:

     The correlation between the Achilles tendon reflex time intervals and the functional state of thyroid has been known since the last century (ORD 1884), but considerably later the curve of the reflex was recorded and measured (Chaney, 1924) and the diagnostic relationships were determined.

   • 1989, Gerard N. Burrow, Jack H. Oppenheimer, Robert Volpe, Thyroid Function & Disease, page 281:

     This is a primary muscle abnormality and can be measured as the Achilles tendon reflex time. It is a feature of advanced hypothyroidism and may not be detected in very mild forms of the disorder.

   • 1992, Italian Society of Endocrinology, Journal of Endocrinological Investigation - Volume 15, Issues 1-6, page 115:

     7) normal imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary region and 8) values of some parameters of peripheral thyroid hormone action compatible with hyperthyroidism, such as shorted Achilles' tendon reflex time and low PEP/LVET.

   • 1994, Michael T. Murray, Glandular Extracts, page 28:

     Before the use of blood measurements, it was common to diagnose hypothyroidism based on basal body temperature (the temperature of the body at rest) and Achilles tendon reflex time (reflexes are slowed in hypothyroidism).

   • 1995, Julian M. Whitaker, Dr. Whitaker's Guide to Natural Healing - America's Leading "Wellness Doctor" Shares His Secrets for Lifelong Health!, page 282:

     ... when you are evaluating whether or not the thyroid is involved in producing the patient's symptoms. One test is the Achilles tendon reflex time, otherwise known as "rubber hammer diagnostics."

   • 2003, Thomas Reilly (editor), Advances in Sport, Leisure and Ergonomics, page 156:

     The Achilles tendon reflex time, has been frequently used as a test of thyroid function and a shortening of the contraction time has been observed in hyperthyroid patients.

   • 2012, Michael Myrtek, Constitutional Psychophysiology - Research in Review, page 105:

     Changes in the Achilles tendon reflex time (ATR) are used in medical practice as a screening method for thyroid disorders.

   • 2019, U.K. Misra, J Kalita, Clinical Neurophysiology - Nerve Conduction, Electromyography, Evoked Potentials, page 196:

     The Achilles-tendon reflex time is prolonged in most hypothyroid patients.

   • 2021, Ahmad Salehi, Dick F. Swaab, Felix Kreier, Paul J. Lucassen, Ruud M. Buijs (editors), The Human Hypothalamus Neuroendocrine Disorders, page 142:

     Prolonged Achilles-tendon reflex time and some changes in biochemistry tests such as increased levels of cholesterol, serum creatinine, and creatinine kinase give a clue to diagnose hypothyroidism.