RE: What is the Babinski Reflex?

[Guest guest]

A doctor / researcher (named Babinski, of course) discovered that if a blunt object is drawn from the heel of the foot toward the toes, the toes normally curl in toward the bottom of the foot. It is a reflex and can not be controlled.

However, people with damage to certain parts of the nervous system (spine and lower brainstem) have an abnormal reflex. If the damage is moderate, the toes tend to curl upward. But if the damage is severe enough, there is no reflex.

Hope that helps.

Regards,

=jbf=

B. Fisher

-----Original Message-----From: FVJAMES@... Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2002 10:20 AMTo: shydrager Subject: What is the Babinski Reflex?What is the Babinski Reflex?Marilyn in TN************Hi Marilyn:This is what I found on Babinski Reflex. Hugs VeraBabinski's reflexContents of this page: Alternative names Definition Considerations Common causes Home care Call your health care provider if What to expect Alternative names Reflex - Babinski's; Extensor plantar reflex Definition Return to top The Babinski's reflex is where the great toe flexes toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out when the sole of the foot is firmly stroked. This is normal in younger children, but abnormal after about 2 years old. Considerations Return to top Reflexes are specific, predictable, involuntary responses to a particular type of stimulation.The Babinski's reflex is one of the infantile reflexes. It is normal in children under 2 years old, but it disappears as the child ages and the nervous system becomes more developed. In people more than 2 years old, the presence of a Babinski's reflex indicates damage to the nerve paths connecting the spinal cord and the brain (the corticospinal tract). Because this tract is right-sided and left-sided, a Babinski's reflex can occur on one side or on both sides.An abnormal Babinski's reflex can be temporary or permanent.Common causes Return to top Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (there may be a temporary Babinski's reflex for a short time after a seizure) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Brain tumor (if it occurs in the corticospinal tract or the cerebellum) Familial periodic paralysis Friedreich's ataxia Head injury Hepatic encephalopathy Meningitis Multiple sclerosis Pernicious anemia Poliomyelitis (some forms) Rabies Spinal cord injury Spinal cord tumor Stroke Syringomyelia Tuberculosis (when it affects the spine)Home care Return to top 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 Return to top Note: This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider, and the affected person usually was not aware of its presence. What to expect Return to top The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.Medical history questions (i.e., Have any other unusual symptoms been noted before this reflex developed?) will be asked documenting this reflex in detail. The physical examination will probably include a complete nervous system (neurologic) 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 fluidAfter seeing your health care provider, you may want to add a diagnosis related to a Babinski's reflex to your personal medical record. Update Date: 07/14/01 If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe

[Guest guest]

thank u

you are the first one to answer my question, what if

no reflex. the test was done on me last week and i

had no reaction or reflex and i wondered what it

meant.

wanda

--- " B. Fisher " jfisher@...> wrote:

> A doctor / researcher (named Babinski, of course)

> discovered that if a

> blunt object is drawn from the heel of the foot

> toward the toes, the

> toes normally curl in toward the bottom of the foot.

> It is a reflex and

> can not be controlled.

>

> However, people with damage to certain parts of the

> nervous system

> (spine and lower brainstem) have an abnormal reflex.

> If the damage is

> moderate, the toes tend to curl upward. But if the

> damage is severe

> enough, there is no reflex.

>

> Hope that helps.

>

>

> Regards,

> =jbf=

>

> B. Fisher

>

> What is the Babinski Reflex?

>

>

> What is the Babinski Reflex?

>

> Marilyn in TN

>

> ************

> Hi Marilyn:

>

> This is what I found on Babinski Reflex.

>

> Hugs Vera

>

> Babinski's reflex

>

> Contents of this page:

>

> Alternative

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#altNames>

> names

> Definition

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#contentDescription>

>

> Considerations

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#considerations>

>

> Common

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#commonCauses>

> causes

> Home care

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#homeCare>

>

> Call

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#call_If>

> your

> health care provider if

> What to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#whatToExpect>

> expect

> Alternative names

>

> Reflex - Babinski's; Extensor plantar reflex

> Definition Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> The Babinski's reflex is where the great toe flexes

> toward the top of

> the foot and the other toes fan out when the sole of

> the foot is firmly

> stroked. This is normal in younger children, but

> abnormal after about 2

> years old. Considerations Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Reflexes are specific, predictable, involuntary

> responses to a

> particular type of stimulation.

>

> The Babinski's reflex is one of the infantile

> reflexes. It is normal in

> children under 2 years old, but it disappears as the

> child ages and the

> nervous system becomes more developed.

>

> In people more than 2 years old, the presence of a

> Babinski's reflex

> indicates damage to the nerve paths connecting the

> spinal cord and the

> brain (the corticospinal tract). Because this tract

> is right-sided and

> left-sided, a Babinski's reflex can occur on one

> side or on both sides.

>

> An abnormal Babinski's reflex can be temporary or

> permanent.

>

> Common causes Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

>

> Generalized

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000695.htm>

> tonic-clonic seizure (there may be a temporary

> Babinski's reflex for a

> short time after a seizure

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003200.htm>

> )

> Amyotrophic

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000688.htm>

> lateral

> sclerosis

> Brain

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000768.htm>

> tumor (if it occurs in the corticospinal tract or

> the cerebellum)

> Familial

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000312.htm>

> periodic paralysis

> Friedreich's

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001411.htm>

> ataxia

> Head

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000028.htm>

> injury

> Hepatic

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000302.htm>

> encephalopathy

> Meningitis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm>

>

> Multiple

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000737.htm>

> sclerosis

> Pernicious

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000569.htm>

> anemia

> Poliomyelitis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm>

> (some

> forms)

> Rabies

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001334.htm>

>

> Spinal cord

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001066.htm>

> injury

> Spinal cord tumor

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001310.htm>

>

> Stroke

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000726.htm>

>

> Syringomyelia

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001398.htm>

>

> Tuberculosis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000077.htm>

> (when it

> affects the spine)Home care Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Typically, a person (older than an infant) who has a

> Babinski's reflex

> will also have incoordination

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003198.htm>

> , weakness

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003174.htm>

> , and

> difficulty with muscle

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003193.htm>

> 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 Return

> to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Note: This finding is usually discovered by the

> health care provider,

> and the affected person usually was not aware of its

> presence. What to

> expect Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

thank u

you are the first one to answer my question, what if

no reflex. the test was done on me last week and i

had no reaction or reflex and i wondered what it

meant.

wanda

--- " B. Fisher " jfisher@...> wrote:

> A doctor / researcher (named Babinski, of course)

> discovered that if a

> blunt object is drawn from the heel of the foot

> toward the toes, the

> toes normally curl in toward the bottom of the foot.

> It is a reflex and

> can not be controlled.

>

> However, people with damage to certain parts of the

> nervous system

> (spine and lower brainstem) have an abnormal reflex.

> If the damage is

> moderate, the toes tend to curl upward. But if the

> damage is severe

> enough, there is no reflex.

>

> Hope that helps.

>

>

> Regards,

> =jbf=

>

> B. Fisher

>

> What is the Babinski Reflex?

>

>

> What is the Babinski Reflex?

>

> Marilyn in TN

>

> ************

> Hi Marilyn:

>

> This is what I found on Babinski Reflex.

>

> Hugs Vera

>

> Babinski's reflex

>

> Contents of this page:

>

> Alternative

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#altNames>

> names

> Definition

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#contentDescription>

>

> Considerations

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#considerations>

>

> Common

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#commonCauses>

> causes

> Home care

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#homeCare>

>

> Call

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#call_If>

> your

> health care provider if

> What to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#whatToExpect>

> expect

> Alternative names

>

> Reflex - Babinski's; Extensor plantar reflex

> Definition Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> The Babinski's reflex is where the great toe flexes

> toward the top of

> the foot and the other toes fan out when the sole of

> the foot is firmly

> stroked. This is normal in younger children, but

> abnormal after about 2

> years old. Considerations Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Reflexes are specific, predictable, involuntary

> responses to a

> particular type of stimulation.

>

> The Babinski's reflex is one of the infantile

> reflexes. It is normal in

> children under 2 years old, but it disappears as the

> child ages and the

> nervous system becomes more developed.

>

> In people more than 2 years old, the presence of a

> Babinski's reflex

> indicates damage to the nerve paths connecting the

> spinal cord and the

> brain (the corticospinal tract). Because this tract

> is right-sided and

> left-sided, a Babinski's reflex can occur on one

> side or on both sides.

>

> An abnormal Babinski's reflex can be temporary or

> permanent.

>

> Common causes Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

>

> Generalized

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000695.htm>

> tonic-clonic seizure (there may be a temporary

> Babinski's reflex for a

> short time after a seizure

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003200.htm>

> )

> Amyotrophic

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000688.htm>

> lateral

> sclerosis

> Brain

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000768.htm>

> tumor (if it occurs in the corticospinal tract or

> the cerebellum)

> Familial

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000312.htm>

> periodic paralysis

> Friedreich's

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001411.htm>

> ataxia

> Head

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000028.htm>

> injury

> Hepatic

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000302.htm>

> encephalopathy

> Meningitis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm>

>

> Multiple

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000737.htm>

> sclerosis

> Pernicious

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000569.htm>

> anemia

> Poliomyelitis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm>

> (some

> forms)

> Rabies

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001334.htm>

>

> Spinal cord

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001066.htm>

> injury

> Spinal cord tumor

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001310.htm>

>

> Stroke

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000726.htm>

>

> Syringomyelia

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001398.htm>

>

> Tuberculosis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000077.htm>

> (when it

> affects the spine)Home care Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Typically, a person (older than an infant) who has a

> Babinski's reflex

> will also have incoordination

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003198.htm>

> , weakness

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003174.htm>

> , and

> difficulty with muscle

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003193.htm>

> 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 Return

> to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Note: This finding is usually discovered by the

> health care provider,

> and the affected person usually was not aware of its

> presence. What to

> expect Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

thank u

you are the first one to answer my question, what if

no reflex. the test was done on me last week and i

had no reaction or reflex and i wondered what it

meant.

wanda

--- " B. Fisher " jfisher@...> wrote:

> A doctor / researcher (named Babinski, of course)

> discovered that if a

> blunt object is drawn from the heel of the foot

> toward the toes, the

> toes normally curl in toward the bottom of the foot.

> It is a reflex and

> can not be controlled.

>

> However, people with damage to certain parts of the

> nervous system

> (spine and lower brainstem) have an abnormal reflex.

> If the damage is

> moderate, the toes tend to curl upward. But if the

> damage is severe

> enough, there is no reflex.

>

> Hope that helps.

>

>

> Regards,

> =jbf=

>

> B. Fisher

>

> What is the Babinski Reflex?

>

>

> What is the Babinski Reflex?

>

> Marilyn in TN

>

> ************

> Hi Marilyn:

>

> This is what I found on Babinski Reflex.

>

> Hugs Vera

>

> Babinski's reflex

>

> Contents of this page:

>

> Alternative

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#altNames>

> names

> Definition

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#contentDescription>

>

> Considerations

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#considerations>

>

> Common

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#commonCauses>

> causes

> Home care

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#homeCare>

>

> Call

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#call_If>

> your

> health care provider if

> What to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#whatToExpect>

> expect

> Alternative names

>

> Reflex - Babinski's; Extensor plantar reflex

> Definition Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> The Babinski's reflex is where the great toe flexes

> toward the top of

> the foot and the other toes fan out when the sole of

> the foot is firmly

> stroked. This is normal in younger children, but

> abnormal after about 2

> years old. Considerations Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Reflexes are specific, predictable, involuntary

> responses to a

> particular type of stimulation.

>

> The Babinski's reflex is one of the infantile

> reflexes. It is normal in

> children under 2 years old, but it disappears as the

> child ages and the

> nervous system becomes more developed.

>

> In people more than 2 years old, the presence of a

> Babinski's reflex

> indicates damage to the nerve paths connecting the

> spinal cord and the

> brain (the corticospinal tract). Because this tract

> is right-sided and

> left-sided, a Babinski's reflex can occur on one

> side or on both sides.

>

> An abnormal Babinski's reflex can be temporary or

> permanent.

>

> Common causes Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

>

> Generalized

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000695.htm>

> tonic-clonic seizure (there may be a temporary

> Babinski's reflex for a

> short time after a seizure

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003200.htm>

> )

> Amyotrophic

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000688.htm>

> lateral

> sclerosis

> Brain

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000768.htm>

> tumor (if it occurs in the corticospinal tract or

> the cerebellum)

> Familial

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000312.htm>

> periodic paralysis

> Friedreich's

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001411.htm>

> ataxia

> Head

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000028.htm>

> injury

> Hepatic

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000302.htm>

> encephalopathy

> Meningitis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm>

>

> Multiple

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000737.htm>

> sclerosis

> Pernicious

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000569.htm>

> anemia

> Poliomyelitis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm>

> (some

> forms)

> Rabies

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001334.htm>

>

> Spinal cord

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001066.htm>

> injury

> Spinal cord tumor

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001310.htm>

>

> Stroke

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000726.htm>

>

> Syringomyelia

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001398.htm>

>

> Tuberculosis

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000077.htm>

> (when it

> affects the spine)Home care Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Typically, a person (older than an infant) who has a

> Babinski's reflex

> will also have incoordination

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003198.htm>

> , weakness

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003174.htm>

> , and

> difficulty with muscle

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003193.htm>

> 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 Return

> to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

> Note: This finding is usually discovered by the

> health care provider,

> and the affected person usually was not aware of its

> presence. What to

> expect Return to

>

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/#top>

> top

>

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________