THE PLANTAR REFLEX - RePub

- rapid foot tapping on the couch, against the examiner's hand
- rapid up-and-down movements of the great toe, with the foot planted
on the floor.
The results of the latter two tests were quantified by counting the
number of taps in 10 seconds. Skill was considered to be impaired when
this number was less than 3 j 4 of that on the control side, or when there
were obvious qualitative differences, such as dysrhythmia, or associated
movements of the little toes on one side only.
5. Associated dorszflexion of the great toe
This was investigated in three ways:
- ipsilateral hip flexion \against resistance
contralateral hip flexion
~ contralateral rapid toe movements
6. Tone
Passive resistance was separately examined in the ankle (by shaking the
leg and foot with the patient supine), the knee (if possible also by
comparing pendular movements with the patient sitting), and the hip.
7. Tendon reflexes
Examined were: ankle jerk (when necessary also in the kneeling
position), knee jerk, adductor reflex and biceps femoris reflex. These were
recorded on a nine-point scale (Mayo Clinic, 1963) ranging from minus
four (absent) through zero (normal) up to plus four (clonus).
8. Abdominal reflexes
Two levels were tested on both sides, above and below the umbilicus. In
men, the cremasteric reflex was also included (the first patient group
consisted of 27 men and 23 women).
9. Wasting
The circumference of the thigh was measured 15 centimetres above the
medial margin of the knee joint, the calf at its maximal girth. Wasting was
assumed to be present when the difference was two centimetres or more
on one of these measurements.
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