Achilles reflex time in euthyroid, non-goitrous Zambian Africans

The Achilles Reflex time (ART) was recorded in 80 euthyroid, non-goitrous Zambian Africans aged 8-69 years (mean 32.7 years) using the thyrochron. The reflex was measurable in 62 subjects (77.5% of total) but not obtainable in 18. No significant difference in ART was found between females and males, but there appeared to be difference between the right and left ankles. ART was significantly shorter in the right ankle (309.9 + 5.8 msec) than in the left ankle (321.3 + 5.9 msec). Diagrams of "reflex chronograms" revealed three types of response namely: stable, relatively stable and scattered varieties.