This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Plantar reflex

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The plantar reflex is used to diagnose an upper motor neurone lesion above the S1 segment.

Warn the patient what is to occur. Using a blunt object, such as motor car key, stroke up the lateral aspect of the sole, curving inwards before you reach the middle metatarsophalangeal joint.

Interpretation of results:

  • normal response - flexion of the big toe at the MTP joint in patients over one year of age
  • Babinski response - extension of the toe at the MTP joint - this indicates an upper motor neurone lesion

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.