The Hanger Reflex: An Inexpensive and Non-invasive Therapeutic Modality for Dystonia and Neurological Disorders

Abstract

The hanger reflex is a phenomenon characterized by the involuntary rotation of the head when a wire hanger is worn around the head such that a force is applied to the frontal temporal area by the longer side of the hanger. The application of a shearing force on the skin is thought to be the cause of this phenomenon. Attempts have been made to treat cervical dystonia using equipment designed to induce the hanger reflex. This reflex may have implications in the treatment of headaches, cervical pain, and adhesive capsulitis. The hanger reflex is seen not only in the head region but is also in other parts of the body. Thus, it could be used in the treatment of systemic dystonias. The hanger reflex may help develop inexpensive and non-invasive treatment for dystonia or other neurological diseases and is expected to be the focus of research in the future.

Keywords: chronic headache; dystonia; shoulder stiffness; torticollis.

Fig. 1

Hanger reflex. (A) A wire hanger used to induce the hanger reflex and (B) the hanger is stretched out and worn around the head, touching the frontotemporal area and causing a sensation of the head rotating toward the compressed side. These figures have been reproduced from previously published papers.^,

Fig. 2

A device to induce the hanger reflex for rotation. (A) Equipment that triggers the hanger reflex and (B) the hanger reflex occurs toward the compressed side when the device is rotated while compressing the frontotemporal area. These figures have been reproduced from previously published papers.^, (C) Rakubi (rotational type) (TSS, Tokyo, Japan) General medical device in Japan—non-active simplified traction device (35519001).

Fig. 3

A device to induce the hanger reflex for backward–forward rotation. (A) Equipment that triggers the hanger reflex and (B) the hanger reflex occurs toward the upper side when the device is rotated while compressing the upper frontal area. (C) Rakubi 2 (antero-posterior type, TSS, Tokyo, Japan).

Fig. 4

A device induces the hanger reflex on the wrist: (A) This device induces the hanger reflex, (B) this figure shows the method to induce the hanger reflex on the wrist. The figure have been reproduced from previously published papers. (B and C) Ratekubi (TSS, Tokyo, Japan): a device that induced the hanger reflex on the wrist.