運動器に関する疫学調査―南会津スタディ第6報：下肢深部反射の疫学的検討

Epidemiologic Study of Musculoskeletal Disorders. The Minami-Aizu Study. Part 6 : Cross-sectional Study of Lower Limb Deep Reflexes

　高齢者で下肢深部反射の低下や消失，あるいは左右差が認められる場合には，それが病的意義をもつのか，加齢による変化なのかについての判断が困難な場合がある．本報告では，下肢深部反射の左右差と加齢による変化に着目して，調査した．対象は，同年代の人口の20.3％にあたる地域住民1,750名である(最多年代層は70歳代)．本調査により，下肢症状の既往がなく，腰仙椎部神経障害の既往の可能性が低い症例でも，膝蓋腱反射は5.3％，アキレス腱反射は8.9％の頻度で左右差が認められ，その頻度は，50歳代を境に増加することが明らかとなった．

　There have been few reports that hypoactive, disappear or asymmetry of lower limb deep tendon reflexes in the elderly indicate whether neurological abnormal or normal aging state.　We examined the relationship between asymmetry of lower limb deep tendon reflexes and aging.　This study was conducted on 1,750 people (largest number in the 8th decade of life) who agreed to participate and were interviewed.　They accounted for approximately 20.3% of the local population.　The results showed that there was asymmetry of patellar tendon reflex (PTR) (5.3%) and Achilles tendon reflex (ATR) (8.9%) in the case without past or present leg symptom unlikely have lumbosacral disorder.　The frequency of asymmetry of PTR and ATR increase ranging from 6th decade of life.