Jolt accentuation

System: Neurological Signs · All neurological signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

A headache becomes noticeably worse when the patient turns the head rapidly from side to side, two to three times per second.

What a positive finding suggests

Studied as a bedside aid in suspected meningitis and associated with meningeal inflammation, although its diagnostic accuracy is debated.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.