(L2-L4) Absent Absent Knee Flexion Patient sitting on Normal Normal edge of plinth Reduced Reduced (L5-S2) Absent Absent Hip Flexion Patient sitting on Normal Normal (L2) edge of plinth Reduced Reduced Absent Absent Sensation Pin prick test Normal Normal across lower leg Reduced Reduced dermatomes (see If reduced state If reduced state which figure below) which dermatome(s)3: dermatome(s)3: Patient in lying or Present Present Ankle Reflex (S1) sitting Reduced Reduced Consider Absent Absent Jendrassik Brisk Brisk Manoeuvre1 to aid assessment Patient in lying or Present Present Babinski Response1 sitting Absent Absent Knee Reflex Patient in lying or Present Present (L3/L4) sitting Reduced Reduced Consider Absent Absent Jendrassik Brisk Brisk Manoeuvre2 to validate findings 1When the Babinski response is present in an adult, it is often a sign of a brain or nervous system disorder. 2Jendrassik is a distraction technique used to overcome the voluntary suppression of Manoeuvre reflexes. The patient hooks the flexed fingers of the two hands together and forcibly tries to pull them apart; while this tension is being exerted the lower extremity reflexes are tested.
(L2-L4) Absent Absent Knee Flexion (L5-S2) Patient sitting on edge of plinth Normal Reduced Absent Normal Reduced Absent Hip Flexion (L2) Patient sitting on edge of plinth Normal Reduced Absent Normal Reduced Absent Sensation Pin prick test across lower leg dermatomes (see figure below) Normal Reduced If reduced state which dermatome(s)3: Normal Reduced If reduced state which dermatome(s)3: Ankle Reflex (S1) Patient in lying or sitting Consider Jendrassik Manoeuvre1 to aid assessment Present Reduced Absent Brisk Present Reduced Absent Brisk Babinski Response1 Patient in lying or sitting Present Absent Present Absent Knee Reflex (L3/L4) Patient in lying or sitting Consider Jendrassik Manoeuvre2 to validate findings Present Reduced Absent Brisk Present Reduced Absent Brisk 1When the Babinski response is present in an adult, it is often a sign of a brain or nervous system disorder. 2Jendrassik Manoeuvre is a distraction technique used to overcome the voluntary suppression of reflexes. The patient hooks the flexed fingers of the two hands together and forcibly tries to pull them apart; while this tension is being exerted the lower extremity reflexes are tested.