title: The Interrater Reliability of Subjective Assessments of the Babinski Reflex.
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.
authors.affiliation: a Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School , Parktown , South Africa.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dafkin
authors.affiliation: a Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School , Parktown , South Africa.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: a Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School , Parktown , South Africa.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: b Division of Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School , Parktown , South Africa.
authors.forename: Demetri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veliotes
authors.affiliation: c 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.
authors.forename: Benita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.affiliation: a Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School , Parktown , South Africa.
authors.forename: Warrick
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McKinon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D000072141:Neurologists; D015588:Observer Variation; D001405:Reflex, Babinski / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013337:Students, Medical; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Babinski reflex; electromyography; hallux; kinematics; subjective rating