The Interrater Reliability of Subjective Assessments of the Babinski Reflex |
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| Authors: | Chloe Dafkin Andrew Green Samantha Kerr Demetri Veliotes Benita Olivier Warrick McKinon |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africachloe.dafkin@wits.ac.za;3. Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africa;4. Division of Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africa;5. Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | The Babinski reflex is a clinical diagnostic tool; however, the interrater reliability of this tool is currently greatly contested. A comparison between rater groups with objective measurements of the Babinski reflex was therefore conducted. Fifteen recorded Babinski reflexes were assessed by 12 neurologists and 12 medical students as being either pathological or nonpathological. Kinematic and electromyographic variables were collected and used to assess which aspects of the Babinski reflex predict classification. Substantial interrater agreement within the neurologist and student groups (κ = .72 and .67, respectively) was shown; however, there were some differing aspects between what neurologists and students used to assess the reflex as determined by objective kinematic measurements. |
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| Keywords: | Babinski reflex kinematics hallux electromyography subjective rating |
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