Friday, February, 10, 2012

Babinski's reflex

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Reflex - Babinski's; Extensor plantar reflex; Babinski's sign


Home Care

Typically, a person (older than an infant) who has a Babinski's reflex will also have incoordination, weakness, and difficulty with muscle control. Safety is important to prevent the risk of injury. The person may need assistance with activity, and the environment should be kept free of hazards.


Call your health care provider if

This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider, and the affected person usually is not aware of its presence.


What to expect at your health care provider's office

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the patient's symptoms and medical history.

The physical examination will include a complete nervous system (neurological) examination.

Diagnostic testing may include:

  • MRI scan of the head or MRI scan of the spine
  • Angiography of the head
  • Somatosensory evoked potentials
  • Lumbar puncture and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid

Review Date: 03/26/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)