The reaction also depends of the point where the doctor hits on the knee but also of the size of the hammer.
this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2026
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Doctor: "Let's check your reactions"
Me: dodges the little hammer "How was that, doc?"
Does this actually do anything? The maybe handful of times a doctor did this to me, I don't think anything moved at all but they're always like, "yup, everything's good, moving on." Am I weird and doctors are intimidated by the weirdness, so much so that they ignore it, or did cartoons give me unrealistic expectations for the effect this has on a leg?
Are you sure nothing moved? Perhaps they saw a twitch that was enough to confirm for them?
I can easily cause this reflex to myself.
That's what I'm telling myself but everything I read about it suggests there should be very visible movement of the lower leg. Idk, I'll have to remember to ask next time.
I asked my doctor about this once, because my leg didn't move very much when he'd do the test. He said "I can see a very small movement, which I confirm with a second gentle thump. I could hit you harder, but it wouldn't be very nice."
And then he hit me harder and it wasn't very nice.
The lower leg moving would be an obvious sign, but they may be watching above the knee (where the muscle is actually contracting to create that movement) for even a twitch. Even absent that, without other symptom complaints they may just not be holding much weight with that one test. If you came in complaining you recently started dropping things, tripping, or injured yourself in a fall, that would carry more weight.
You can try it yourself, sit in a chair or the edge of your bed, and tap your knee just below the kneecap with your fingertips. You should be able to feel your leg twitch.
Have you considered the possibility that you are, in fact, a zombie?
I've never managed to rule it out entirely.
More human than human?
Let me tell you about my mother...
So I have some neural damage somewhere and none of my doctors care. I feel like there must be something else going on (・_・;)
I'm just so much an obstinate that I subconciously block the response I think. Started doing it as a kid to fuck with doctors and that's just how it is. If I practiced I could probably get over the mental block, but doesn't seem like I'm missing anything.
That is nonsense. Like saying you can make your heart stop beating.
It's really easy to make your heart stop beating. Getting it to start again is the real trick.
With enough practice I believe making your heart stop would be possible. You'd start by meditating to slow it down, and then just do that more until you die
Okay? I don't know what to tell you. I don't have a response when they tap my knee. I did when I was a kid, but I didn't like that it was out of my control. Like I said, I -think- that's what is happening, but I don't know. Thanks for being an ass though.
Sorry for "punching you in the face" like that, perhaps a bit too direct.
It's all good. it's not like I'm -trying- to sound edgy or anything.
I imagine it’s the doctor equivalent of clicking tongs
Why not Zoidberg?!
_