59. Plantar Response

What Is Being Tested?

Babinski’s sign is associated with upper motor neuron lesions anywhere along the corticospinal tract. Note that it may not be possible to elicit Babinski’s sign if there is severe weakness of the toe extensors.

A concise way to document reflexes at the biceps, triceps, brachioradialis, patellar, and Achilles tendons, as well as the plantar responses, is to illustrate them with a stick figure. An example for a normal patient is shown in Figure 3.3 in Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases 3e.