A nurse is preparing to test a client's plantar Babinski reflex. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give to prepare the client for this test?
Explanation & Rationale
The plantar Babinski reflex is assessed by stroking the sole of the foot from the heel toward the toes. A normal response is the flexion or curling of the toes. An abnormal response, known as a positive Babinski sign, is the extension and fanning out of the toes, which indicates an upper motor neuron lesion. "Place your foot in my hand and I will tap the back of your heel": This instruction is more relevant to testing the Achilles tendon reflex, where the nurse taps the back of the heel to elicit a plantarflexion response. "Sit on the edge of the bed while I tap your knee": This instruction is more relevant to testing the patellar reflex, also known as the knee-jerk reflex. The nurse taps the patellar tendon just below the kneecap to elicit a reflexive contraction of the quadriceps muscle. "Relax your arm across your chest and I will test your elbow extension": This instruction is more relevant to testing the triceps reflex, where the nurse taps the triceps tendon to elicit a reflexive extension of the elbow.