What is clonus?

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Multiple Choice

What is clonus?

Explanation:
Clonus is a sign of upper motor neuron involvement, seen as rhythmic, involuntary muscle contractions that occur after a sudden stretch. It happens because the stretch reflex becomes overactive when normal inhibitory signals from the brain are reduced, so the muscle keeps contracting and relaxing in a rapid, repeating pattern after you passively stretch it (often tested by dorsiflexing the foot). This isn’t a single spontaneous jerk or a sensation like numbness or tingling, and it’s not a muscle atrophy or a seizure. Clonus points to CNS‑level hyperreflexia, commonly accompanying conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, or multiple sclerosis.

Clonus is a sign of upper motor neuron involvement, seen as rhythmic, involuntary muscle contractions that occur after a sudden stretch. It happens because the stretch reflex becomes overactive when normal inhibitory signals from the brain are reduced, so the muscle keeps contracting and relaxing in a rapid, repeating pattern after you passively stretch it (often tested by dorsiflexing the foot). This isn’t a single spontaneous jerk or a sensation like numbness or tingling, and it’s not a muscle atrophy or a seizure. Clonus points to CNS‑level hyperreflexia, commonly accompanying conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, or multiple sclerosis.

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