Functional hemiparesis: clinical signs
Evidence-based neurology checklist on functional hemiparesis: clinical signs: Hoover’s sign The subject is kept supine Hip flexion on the normal side is tested against resistance The expected hip extension on the abnormal side is absent The abduction finger sign The Spinal Injuries Centre test…
Hoover’s sign
- The subject is kept supine
- Hip flexion on the normal side is tested against resistance
- The expected hip extension on the abnormal side is absent
The abduction finger sign
The Spinal Injuries Centre test
Give-way weakness
The co-contraction sign
Absence of pronator drift
The Barré test
Absence of platysma sign
The Babinski trunk-thigh test
The arm drop (hand strike) sign
Hysterical tongue spasm
The abductor sign
The elbow flex-ex sign
The inverse pyramidal leg weakness sign
References
- Daum C, Hubschmid M, Aybek S. The value of ‘positive’ clinical signs for weakness, sensory and gait disorders in conversion disorder: a systematic and narrative review. JNNP 2014; 85:180-190.
- Stone J, Warlow C, Sharpe M. The symptom of functional weakness: a controlled study of 107 patients. Brain 2010; 133:1537-1551.
- Daum C, Aybek S. Validity of the “Drift without pronation” sign in conversion disorder. BMC Neurol 2013; 13:31.
- Sonoo M. Abductor sign: a reliable new sign to detect unilateral non-organic paresis of the lower limb. JNNP 2004; 75:121-125.
- Lombardi TL, Barton E, Wang J, et al. The elbow flex-ex: a new sign to detect unilateral upper extremity non-organic paresis. JNNP 2014; 85:165-167.
