A reflex is an automatic body movement that happens involuntarily in response to a stimulus.
Healthcare providers sometimes test a person’s reflexes as part of a routine or diagnostic exam.
Overactive reflexes occur when muscles have an exaggerated reaction.

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These, along with some strange reflexeslike the Babinski and Glabellarmay indicate a health condition.
Many normal reflexes occur in healthy people, such as blinking when something approaches the cornea.
However, there are also abnormal (or strange) reflexes that not everyone exhibits.
A strange reflex is sometimespathological, which means it points to an underlying condition.
However, some unusual reflexes also occur fairly often in healthy people.
Reflexes at the elbow, crook of the arm, wrists, and ankles may also be checked.
What Is Clonus?
Whether or not a strange reflex is pathological depends on a person’s circumstances and age.
For example, infants display several reflexes that would be considered abnormal in adults.
Abnormal reflexes, on the other hand, are uncommon reactions.
Reflex tests can give healthcare providers valuable clues about a person’s health.
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