What it means
A reflex tested by firmly stroking the sole from the heel up the outer edge and across the ball of the foot. Normally, after infancy, the toes curl down. In a positive Babinski sign the big toe bends up and the other toes spread. It is normal in infants up to about 1 to 2 years old; in older children and adults it points to damage in the brain or spinal cord pathways that control movement. It is named after Joseph Babinski, a French neurologist.
For the nurse
Use a firm, blunt object, not a sharp one. Chart the response for each foot, and report a new positive sign in an adult.
At a glance
| Also written | Babinski reflex, Babinski's sign, Babinski’s sign, positive Babinski |
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Related terms
reflex
An automatic body response to something that stimulates it, which happens without thought, such as the knee jerk.