How to test the Neurological Babinski Reflex for Upper Motor Neurone Lesion

www.johngibbonsbodymaster.co.uk
John Gibbons is a registered Osteopath, Lecturer and Multi-published Author and is demonstrating how to test the (Joseph) Babinski response / reflex. A normal response is for the toes to curl down, however, if you notice the hallux dorsiflex and the toes extend out then a positive sign for an Upper Motor Neurone Lesion and this could be linked to a Spinal Cord Tumour, Motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain or spinal cord injury or meningitis. Any altered motion (toes going up) will need further investigation as a possibility of neural pathology. This test is positive in infants between 12-14 months old as the corticospinal tracts have not myelinated between the brain and spinal cord. These techniques and more is taught on the Neurological Master-Class at the University of Oxford.
In terms of his courses he offers, you can attend one at a time if you prefer or book all ten and receive a discount. Once you have completed all the courses you will be able to call yourself a Bodymaster Method ® Practitioner and be registered on his website with the letters 'BmP' after your name.
John is the Author of the highly successful book and Amazon No 1 best seller called 'Muscle Energy Techniques, a practical guide for physical therapists'. John has also written many more books and these include:
1. A Practical Guide to Kinesiology Taping and comes with a complimentary DVD.
2. The Vital Glutes, connecting the gait cycle to pain and dysfunction
3. Functional Anatomy of the Pelvis, SI joint & lumbar spine
4. The Vital Shoulder Complex
5. 2nd Edition of Kinesiology Taping (released early 2020)
6. The Vital Nerves (released early 2020)
All his books are available to buy now through his website www.johngibbonsbodymaster.co.uk... or from Amazon www.amazon.co.uk
John now offers Advanced Training in all aspects of Sports Medicine to already qualified therapists (athletic trainers, sports massage therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, physical therapists, personal trainers, pilates teaches etc) in manual therapy to 'Diploma' Level. You need to have attended all of his ten individual Therapy Courses before the diploma is awarded. His venue is based at the idyllic venue of Oxford University, home of the first four-minute mile by Roger Bannister.
Courses available and all the dates are online www.johngibbonsbodymaster.co.uk:
1. Spinal Manipulation & Mobilisation
2. Advanced Spinal Manipulation
3. Kinesiology Taping
4. Muscle Energy Techniques
5. The Vital Shoulder Complex
6. The Vital Cervical spine
7. The Vital hip & groin
8. The Vital Knee
9. Advanced Soft Tissue techniques
10. The Vital Neurological system
11. Pelvis, SIJ & Lumbar spine
12. The Vital Glutes & Psoas
13. Acupuncture & Dry needling

[@zarirmarawala1938]

Just to add a bit from my past experience as a retired pod. When there is no response (as many have posted) it is often because the brain modulates (inhibits) most of our reflexes. So if you know the ticklish test is coming or you are trying to do it to yourself, you may see no reaction. In such cases, a Jendrassik maneuver (aka recruitment technique) is done to make the brain buys with other voluntary motor activity (grate your teeth, clench your fingers, focus o a spot on the wall away from the foot, etc) and try the plantar response reflex then. Often you will see a normal plantar response while the person is distracted. Thanks for the good info Dr Gibbons. Z

[@catbiscuit6107]

Thank you for sharing :D

[@SatumainenOlento]

Good one!

[@TetyanaSkrypkina]

Thank you very much! I understood, everything is clear and the recup at the end is extremely important!

[@JohnGibbons]

Excellent! Regards JG

[@guillermoaguilarborbon3568]

From Costa Rica!! Bless PURA VIDA!

[@JohnGibbons]

Thanks and will visit there one day as heard the country is amazing, regards JG

[@carisadias3188]

Thank you!

[@JohnGibbons]

Thanks for the message and hoped you liked the video, regards JG

[@SwagBelieberssss]

My toe just spasm a little up, but not as much as in the video, is that normal?

[@user-kx9wj2oy2i]

thanks!

[@ihavenoname727]

I have primitive reflexes, and a learning disability. My toes go upward. How do you tell the difference between ticklishness and a problem?

[@JohnGibbons]

You will have other symptoms as well as the toes lifting up and out, they might have always been like that and if that is the case then not to much to worry about, regards jG

[@gilmourwaters]

Here’s a question somewhat related to the babinski reflex. When I was young ( somewhere around 6 ) I remember my parents taking me to the Dr for an exam. During the exam the Dr asked me to raise my arms and announced “ ok I’m going to have to tickle you a bit ) and proceeded to run the handle of his reflex hammer over my lower rib on each side ( which tickled like hell )lower muscles contracted . She went on with the rest of her exam doing the babinski on my feet ( again tickled like hell ) etc etc . Now I know about the babinski reflex on the foot and the necessity…. But what was the rib test about?

[@JohnGibbons]

No idea if honest, regards jG

[@spencerfrankclayton4348]

There was an article that claimed that a lot of those just like tickling you.

[@gilmourwaters]

@@spencerfrankclayton4348 meh no harm no foul I guess. It only lasted about 10 seconds. Wasn’t like I got held down and tickled for a long time 🤷‍♂️

[@ewelinadabrowska37]

there's sth called abdominal reflex too. Also used in determining central nervous system problems. It is carried on by stroking of the abdomen around the umbilicus. It could have been that ;)

[@frederictang3617]

Thanks for the information, I’m hydrocephalus

[@rohitkhosla8110]

In this case the actor could show both! Which means the action could be voluntary also?

[@JohnGibbons]

Thanks for the message, regards JG

[@lostinmyworld5499]

So this means that if your foot is ticklish you are healthy?

[@JohnGibbons]

As long as the toes comes down its ok or no movement, regards JG

[@anbreennaiknambaig5494]

What if no movement on fingers after this test.as am suffering from scaitic nerve pain

[@JohnGibbons]

The babinski test is not related to the Sciatic nerve, regards JG

[@contacthimedoisaherbalhome1373]

That's so sad to hear you are still suffering from this same disease. Am feeling for you right now, I know of a doctor who can help you get rid of this. He also help me from this same disease, He can also help cure yours permanently

[@contacthimedoisaherbalhome1373]

1 year ago I was diagnosed of MND and I have tried all I can to get cured but all to no avail, until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbalist man who prepare herbal medication to cure all kind of diseases including MND , at first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try, when i contact this herbalist via his email and he prepared an MND herbal cure and sent it to me via UPS delivery company service,when i received this herbal cure, he gave me step by directions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed, i was totally cured of this deadly disease within 5 months of usage, I am now free from MND ,all thanks to Dr Joshua Ighalo. you can also reach this great herbal doctor for help . He can help get rid of yours permanently.. Also specialize in treating all kinds of illness, HERPES VIRUS, HEPATITIS B, CANCER, BRAIN DISEASE, INFERTILITY, DIABETES AND MORE. ....

[@nayraelgohary6579]

I'm a PT student and when the doctor performed it to me, my toes goes up in dorsiflexion ( all my fingers ) but the big toes took 2 sec later to goes up more further , but the doctor said it was normal so I wander can this be a false positive or coz of he performed it too fast as I saw or it's just normal?! Also I have hyperreflexia in both upper and lower limbs.

[@JohnGibbons]

Not convinced it is normal if honest - especially if all the reflexes are hyper, regards JG

[@faisalkashmiri9736]

Where are you based is any treatment for mnd ASL

[@JohnGibbons]

Oxford in UK, regards JG

[@oldnikonian343]

What if your toes don't display either of the two behaviours when the test is performed, i.e. there is no response? Thank you.

[@kaiwang6016]

That’s what happens to me. I have a left leg pain and left foot numbness due to the herniated disc. My left toes don’t reflect any thing. My right toes give the negative result.

[@JohnGibbons]

No response is ok, regards JG

[@PAWLIE68]

Big toe does not move at all, the other toes move only marginally downwards. Normal?

[@michaeldean4159]

That is normal.

[@JohnGibbons]

Thats ok as classified as normal so dont worry, regards JG

[@contacthimedoisaherbalhome1373]

That's so sad to hear you are still suffering from this same disease. Am feeling for you right now, I know of a doctor who can help you get rid of this. He also help me from this same disease, He can also help cure yours permanently

[@contacthimedoisaherbalhome1373]

1 year ago I was diagnosed of MND and I have tried all I can to get cured but all to no avail, until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbalist man who prepare herbal medication to cure all kind of diseases including MND , at first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try, when i contact this herbalist via his email and he prepared an MND herbal cure and sent it to me via UPS delivery company service,when i received this herbal cure, he gave me step by directions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed, i was totally cured of this deadly disease within 5 months of usage, I am now free from MND ,all thanks to Dr Joshua Ighalo. you can also reach this great herbal doctor for help . He can help get rid of yours permanently.. Also specialize in treating all kinds of illness, HERPES VIRUS, HEPATITIS B, CANCER, BRAIN DISEASE, INFERTILITY, DIABETES AND MORE. ....

[@testpreparationpk3388]

Treatment please

[@JohnGibbons]

If positive you see a neurologist for further testing, regards jG

[@testpreparationpk3388]

@@JohnGibbons thanks man.

[@rebeccajayne825]

What does It mean when your toes don’t move?

[@murukesanarunachalan2188]

it would normal as well

[@JohnGibbons]

Thats normal so no concern, regards JG

[@sabrinsabrin6009]

ممكن ترجمة

[@maxwelljohnson5028]

Is the babinsky reflect ticklish

[@JohnGibbons]

Not really if done correctly - regards JG

[@mike-cm6ug]

Here’s an odd one. I just rub the foot the way the doctors are doing it, but with just my finger. I notice the sensation gets stronger and suddenly the big toes goes up and even a small toe or 2 go up as well. They go up in a calm twitching of about 2 or 3 times separate times after the rub. It takes about a second or 2 for the toe responses to happen. Ever have a patient have that happen? The sensation just feels irritating and not ticklish. I definitely don’t have ticklish feet. The irritation seems to cause the toes to twitch on their own. I can get burning and even tingling sensations with pain afterwards in the big toes and some of the other toes too. Would that be a nerve pain by chance?

[@Adam-el7pf]

And if they are not any reaction? What that means?

[@Adam-el7pf]

No extension and not flexion,

[@JohnGibbons]

That can be NORMAL as well if no reaction, regards JG

[@Adam-el7pf]

@@JohnGibbons wow thanks for the response i was very scaried

[@PAWLIE68]

@@Adam-el7pf Apparently it is only a potential problem if the big toe flexes upwards, and the other four toes possibly splay outwards.

[@tarab3746]

My toes go up because I’m pulling away!

[@JohnGibbons]

For some it can - doesn't mean there is an issue if no other symptoms, regards JG

[@tarab3746]

@@JohnGibbons thanks for the reply!

[@matthewn7432]

This is some gas asmr while I’m baked

[@SkorpzOfficial]

Fam why is that me rn

[@rodolforeyes9472]

Bro why is this me too wtff🤣🤣

[@myworldproductions]

Nice footagraphy.

[@JohnGibbons]

Thank you very much! Regards JG

[@myworldproductions]

@@JohnGibbons No prob, bob.

[@sushilsingh8849]

Sir babinski positive or planter flexion is same.

[@JohnGibbons]

with a positive babinski the toes will extend, regards JG

[@karlitaos6306]

Thank you doctor ! This is the best explained video on youtube for a med student ! And nice feet btw !

[@JohnGibbons]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the message, regards JG

[@chiefdawid2664]

You clearly said it only lasts until about 24 months...then why are you demonstrating it on an adult? Or is she initiating it consciously just for demo?

[@JohnGibbons]

Thanks for the message and yes i am using the adult model as an example. regards JG

[@cxielmail4075]

Presence in adult denotes possible upper motor neuron lesion.

[@shoaibattar1261]

It is always positive between 12-24 months.. after that if there's a disorder only then there'll be a positive response..

[@graceusa3942]

I did it to my own foot, nothing happens. My toes don't move at all.

[@JohnGibbons]

Thanks for the comments and thats ok as no motion is fine, regards JG

[@mineiraobello5830]

Cute cute 🤣🤗

[@JohnGibbons]

Thanks - regards JG

[@sushilsingh8849]

I tried on my sister and there is no any kind of response. What it mean?

[@JohnGibbons]

Thats ok, regards JG

[@marinakelm4483]

Si

[@sjm2726]

What happens when there’s absolutely no reaction when this test is carried out. TIA.

[@JohnGibbons]

Thats fine and a normal reaction, regards JG

[@sjm2726]

John Gibbons thank you. Very much appreciated. I was concerned about my lack of reaction during the test (yesterday).

[@Defender78]

the subject patient has some real nice feet/legs

[@JohnGibbons]

I will tell her, regards JG