The Babinski Test and the Babinski Response

The Babinski test is a very simple procedure that can reveal much about a patients neurological condition and the central nervous system. The Babinski response is seen when the patients big toe moves upward toward the shin along with the fanning of the other toes as the sole of the foot is stroked or scratched with a medical instrument; this is the abnormal response to such stimulus. The correct response after the Babinski test would be all of the patients toes curling down which would show a normal neurological condition. The Babinski response thus shows a possible abnormality within the central nervous system or possible disease within the brain or spinal cord. With infants, the Babinski response is actually normal due to the fact that babies have not yet fully developed at a neurological level; once the Babinski sign has disappeared during infancy there should be no return. However, a warning sign after the Babinski test would be the Babinski response in older children and of course within adults. The Babinski response is often confused with the plantar response. Plantar refers to the sole of the foot and therefore the plantar response is any response to stimulation of the sole of the foot; the Babinski test therefore reveals whether the Babinski response is present, absent, or if there is no response at all. The method for conducting the Babinski test is very simple. A stick is used to scratch the sole of the foot from the heel, along the outside edge of the foot and then finally across the base of the toes. Even though the Babinski test is very simple it must be practiced and conducted correctly; the right amount of pressure used is very important. Too much pressure could cause the patient to move up and away from the instrument, which could lead to misdiagnosis of the Babinski response. At the other extreme, too little pressure could elicit a ticklish response in ticklish patients, which again, could cause the patient to move the foot up and away. Babinski was a French doctor born in Paris, November 17 1857 of polish parents. He worked in the Hpital Salptriere and along with other neurological specialists Babinski made the hospital one of the best in the world for neurological diagnosis and treatment. His discovery changed the face of neurological medicine and equipped doctors with a simple and yet powerful neurological diagnostic tool. Written by: The Writing Team