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The Trapezius Reflex: A New Reflex For Bilateral Motor Control, Wei-Jang Yen, Tzy-Fang Chu, Ta-Shen Kuan, Chia-Hui Chen, Chang-Zern Hong

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Close links between the bilateral trapezii are essential for the stability and coordination of neck and shoulder movements. However, there is no direct neurophysiological evidence to support such a bilateral motor control mechanism. Our study is the first to use an electrodiagnostic method to prove the existence of this reflex. In this study, we have identified a new uniform or standardized technique, named the trapezius reflex (TR), which is able to evaluate proximal shoulder motor function. The TR is defined as an electrically elicited reflex that originates from the synchronized activation of both trapezii by electric stimulation of the accessory …