Arm recoil

Arm recoil
Purpose	Determining muscle tone in newborns

Arm recoil is a neurological examination of neonate for detecting the muscle tone.^[1][2]

Procedure

The baby is placed supine, with forearm flexed at elbow. The elbow (forearm) is extended by pulling the hand; then released.^[3]

Observation

How quickly the forearm returns to flexed original position and the amount of flexion will designate a score.^[1]

• Grade 0: Arms remain extended 180 degrees or abnormal movements begin
• Grade 1: Minimal flexion, 140-180 degrees
• Grade 2: Slight flexion, 110-140 degrees
• Grade 3: Moderate flexion, 90-110 degrees
• Grade 4: Quick return to full flexion, less than 90 degrees

Conclusions

The greater the tone development (flexor tone), the brisker the recoil will be.^[1] This correlates to more advanced gestational age on the Ballard Scale.^[4]

Leg recoil can be assessed following the same principle.^[5]

References

1. Wilkins, Lippincott Williams & (2008). Straight A's in Maternal-neonatal Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 272. ISBN 9781582556932. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
2. Murray, Sharon Smith; McKinney, Emily Slone (2014). Foundations of Maternal-Newborn and Women's Health Nursing - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 406. ISBN 9780323293846. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
3. Kacmarek, Robert M.; Dimas, Steven; Mack, Craig W. (2005). The Essentials of Respiratory Care. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 465. ISBN 9780323027007. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
4. Ballard, JL; Khoury, JC; Wedig, K; Wang, L; Eilers-Walsman, BL; Lipp, R (September 1991). "New Ballard Score, expanded to include extremely premature infants". The Journal of Pediatrics. 119 (3): 417–23. doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(05)82056-6. PMID 1880657. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
5. Ghosh, Sibarjun. bedside clinics in paediatrics. Academic Publishers. ISBN 9788189781859. Retrieved 8 November 2017.