The Babinski reflex is a normal reflex in newborns but should disappear by age two. In adults, it can indicate a neurological disorder and is a useful diagnostic tool. The reflex is named after Joseph Babinski and can be evoked by stroking the ball of the foot. If the toes extend, it indicates a problem, and further diagnostic tests may be necessary. The reflex is normal in many adult animals.
The Babinski reflex or plantar reflex is a reflex that occurs in newborns when the sole of the foot is firmly stroked. By the age of two, the reflex should disappear. In children and adults, the onset of this reflex is a sign of a neurological disorder that may affect the brain or spinal cord and usually precedes the development of more severe neurological symptoms. This makes it a useful diagnostic tool.
This reflex is named after Joseph Babinski, the French neurologist who first took note of it in his patients and described it for the medical community. It is a very useful diagnostic tool because it requires no special equipment and can be performed very quickly in a basic neurological examination which is designed to provide insight into the general condition of a patient’s nervous system.
To evoke the Babinski reflex, the ball of the foot between the heel and toe is stroked firmly with a hard instrument or thumb. In infants, this may cause the big toe to extend, pushing it outward, and often the little toe will accompany it in a splayed motion. Newborns exhibit the reflex because their brains are not fully mature, so the protections that prevent this reflex are not yet present.
In adults, the same stroking motion should cause the toes to curl, in a normal or negative Babinski reflex. Some people experience a neutral reflex, where their toes stay put. If your toes extend, it means a problem. The abnormal Babinski reflex in adults can occur in one or both feet, as the pathways that cause the reflex are present on the right and left sides of the body. Many adults with an abnormal Babinski reflex may also have coordination problems and other neurological difficulties.
If the Babinski reflex is detected in adults, a neurologist usually requests further diagnostic tests. These tests are used to determine the underlying condition that allows the reflex to occur, and once the diagnosis is made, a doctor can make treatment recommendations and discuss options with the patient.
People should note that this reflex is normal in many adult animals, including most other primates and cats and dogs. Humans who have a cat or dog within reach can see the reflex demonstrated by gently stroking the sole of a hind foot, which is supposed to cause the animal’s toes to spread outward.
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