A confirmatory test following a positive Straight Leg Raise Test. Confirms suspicion of lower lumbar radiculopathy or sciatic nerve irritation.

  • Bragard’s Sign

  • Low back pain with unilateral radiation of symptoms to the posterior thigh, calf, or foot
    • Symptoms may include pain, tingling, or numbness

Patient Position
  • Supine
Examiner Position
  • Standing at the side of the affected leg
Steps of Performance

Note: After a positive Straight Leg Raise Test has been established…

  1. Lower the patient’s leg to the point at which symptoms subside
  2. Passively dorsiflex the patient’s foot looking for recreation of symptoms
Alternative Methods

Recreation of radiating nerve-type symptoms between ~30°–70° of hip flexion during a Straight Leg Raise Test can be associated with stretching of the posterior nervous structures.  By lowering the leg slightly, tension on the nerve is reduced, leading to a decrease of radiating symptoms. With reduced symptoms, passively dorsiflexing the patient’s foot tenses the nervous structures (primarily the tibial branches) at a distal location around the malleoli. If symptoms are recreated by de-tensioning the irritated nerves at the hip and re-tensioning them with passive foot dorsiflexion (Bragard’s Test), suspicion of neurologic irritation is increased and suspicion of local tissue damage around the hip is decreased.

General

Positives

Recreation of nerve-type symptoms down the affected leg

  • Radiculopathy or peripheral nerve irritation

Recreation of symptoms in a dermatomal pattern

  • Increased suspicion of radiculopathy of the corresponding nerve root

Recreation or symptoms in a peripheral nerve distribution

  • Peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve or one of its branches

Pertinent Negatives

Local foot/ankle pain

  • local joint dysfunction, soft tissue damage, or muscle tension

DATA
TAGS

A confirmatory test following a positive Straight Leg Raise Test. Confirms suspicion of lower lumbar radiculopathy or sciatic nerve irritation.

  • Low back pain with unilateral radiation of symptoms to the posterior thigh, calf, or foot
    • Symptoms may include pain, tingling, or numbness

Patient Position
  • Supine
Examiner Position
  • Standing at the side of the affected leg
Steps of Performance

Note: After a positive Straight Leg Raise Test has been established…

  1. Lower the patient’s leg to the point at which symptoms subside
  2. Passively dorsiflex the patient’s foot looking for recreation of symptoms
Alternative Methods

Recreation of radiating nerve-type symptoms between ~30°–70° of hip flexion during a Straight Leg Raise Test can be associated with stretching of the posterior nervous structures.  By lowering the leg slightly, tension on the nerve is reduced, leading to a decrease of radiating symptoms. With reduced symptoms, passively dorsiflexing the patient’s foot tenses the nervous structures (primarily the tibial branches) at a distal location around the malleoli. If symptoms are recreated by de-tensioning the irritated nerves at the hip and re-tensioning them with passive foot dorsiflexion (Bragard’s Test), suspicion of neurologic irritation is increased and suspicion of local tissue damage around the hip is decreased.

General

Positives

Recreation of nerve-type symptoms down the affected leg

  • Radiculopathy or peripheral nerve irritation

Recreation of symptoms in a dermatomal pattern

  • Increased suspicion of radiculopathy of the corresponding nerve root

Recreation or symptoms in a peripheral nerve distribution

  • Peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve or one of its branches

Pertinent Negatives

Local foot/ankle pain

  • local joint dysfunction, soft tissue damage, or muscle tension