| Abstract/Notes |
The Babinski sign is a well documented phenomenon and testing for its presence forms part of the standard neurological examination. However, although historically it is considered to indicate an upper motor neuron lesion related to pathology anywhere in the course of the corticospinal tract, it has been found to be present in healthy children, in adults, and in increasing numbers in the elderly population. It may therefore also be a sign of the state of development of the brain and its subsequent decline. Objective: To draw together research being conducted into the Babinski sign, how it should be performed, how it should be evaluated, its validity and possible false-positive extensor plantar responses seen as a result of developmental delay in both children and adults. Design: This study was a review of the available literature retrieved from computerised databases, the world wide web and authoritative texts. Method: All the information on current and past research was gathered from a computerised literature search of MEDLINE, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Science Citation Index, SCOPUS, CINAHL and the world wide web. The search terms used were Babinski, Babinski sign, extensor plantar response. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; full text by subscription.
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