The plantar reflex (PR) is a neurological finding characterized by involuntary contraction of groups of muscles in the foot and lower leg, in response to a mildly noxious stimulus applied to the sole of the foot. The usual noxious stimulus is provided by the examiner’s firmly grasping the patient’s heel and dragging his or her thumbnail along the outer edge of the foot from the heel to the base of the little toe. This maneuver produces flexion (downward deviation) of all the toes.
Reflex in which drawing a blunt instrument over, or firmly stroking, the outer part of the sole from the heel toward the little toe causes the toes to bunch and curl downward. In those over the age of VA-2 years an upward movement of the big toe after this stimulus is usually a sign of neurological damage, the Babinski reflex.
Flexion of the foot and toes when the bottom surface of the foot is stimulated.
A reflex obtained by drawing a bluntly pointed object along the outer border of the sole of the foot from the heel to the little toe. The normal flexor response is a bunching and downward movement of the toes. An upward movement of the great toe is called an extensor response (or Babinski reflex). In all persons over the age of 18 months this is a sensitive indication of disease in the brain or spinal cord.
A reflex response obtained by drawing a pointed object along the outer border of the sole of the foot from the heel to the little toe. The normal flexor response is a bunching and downward movement of the toes. An upward movement of the big toe is called an extensor response, or Babinski reflex, which is a sensitive indicator of disease in the brain or spinal cord.