Babinski's reflex

Alternative names:

extensor plantar reflex; reflex - Babinski's

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 reflex is usually found by the health care provider during an examination.)

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting this reflex in detail may include:

• Have any other unusual symptoms been noted before this reflex developed?

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

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

Diagnostic testing may include:

• CT scan of the head and/or CT scan of the spine
• angiography of the head
• somatosensory evoked potentials
• myelogram
• lumbar puncture and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to a Babinski's reflex to your personal medical record.