A confirmatory test following a positive Straight Leg Raise Test. Confirms suspicion of lower lumbar radiculopathy.
- Well Leg Raise Test/Sign
- Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test/Sign
- XSLR
- Fajersztajn Test/Sign
- Low back pain with unilateral radiation of symptoms to the posterior thigh, calf, or foot with a positive Straight Leg Raise Test
- Symptoms may include pain, tingling, or numbness
Patient Position
- Supine
Examiner Position
- Standing at the side of the non-affected leg
Steps of Performance
Note: After a positive Straight Leg Raise Test has been established…
- With the knee fully extended, slowly lift the non-affected leg into hip flexion observing for the recreation of radiating symptoms down the affected leg (non-raised leg)
Alternative Methods
Recreation of radiating symptoms a between ~30°–70° during a Straight Leg Raise Test can be associated with stretching of the posterior nervous structures.
By flexing the hip of the non-affected leg (well leg), the nervous structures under assessment are slightly tensioned medially across the spine toward the non-affect leg. Larger lesions tends to result in broader nerve impingement leading to a higher occurrence of nervous irritation with tension from both lateral and medial stretch forces.
By de-tensioning the irritated nerves after a positive Straight Leg Raise Test and re-tensioning them with a different force vector (Well Leg Raise), suspicion of neurologic irritation is increased while suspicion of local tissue damage around the affected hip is decreased.
General
Positives
Recreation of nerve-type symptoms down the affected leg (between ~30°–70°)
- Radiculopathy
- likely more centrally located radiculopathy (e.g. disc herniation)
Pertinent Negatives
Local, non-radiating low back pain/anterior hip pain
- local joint dysfunction, soft tissue damage, and/or muscle tension
Tension/pain along the posterior aspect of the thigh and calf of the non-affected leg
- Muscle tension
A confirmatory test following a positive Straight Leg Raise Test. Confirms suspicion of lower lumbar radiculopathy.
- Well Leg Raise Test/Sign
- Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test/Sign
- XSLR
- Fajersztajn Test/Sign
- Low back pain with unilateral radiation of symptoms to the posterior thigh, calf, or foot with a positive Straight Leg Raise Test
- Symptoms may include pain, tingling, or numbness
Patient Position
- Supine
Examiner Position
- Standing at the side of the non-affected leg
Steps of Performance
Note: After a positive Straight Leg Raise Test has been established…
- With the knee fully extended, slowly lift the non-affected leg into hip flexion observing for the recreation of radiating symptoms down the affected leg (non-raised leg)
Alternative Methods
Recreation of radiating symptoms a between ~30°–70° during a Straight Leg Raise Test can be associated with stretching of the posterior nervous structures.
By flexing the hip of the non-affected leg (well leg), the nervous structures under assessment are slightly tensioned medially across the spine toward the non-affect leg. Larger lesions tends to result in broader nerve impingement leading to a higher occurrence of nervous irritation with tension from both lateral and medial stretch forces.
By de-tensioning the irritated nerves after a positive Straight Leg Raise Test and re-tensioning them with a different force vector (Well Leg Raise), suspicion of neurologic irritation is increased while suspicion of local tissue damage around the affected hip is decreased.
General
Positives
Recreation of nerve-type symptoms down the affected leg (between ~30°–70°)
- Radiculopathy
- likely more centrally located radiculopathy (e.g. disc herniation)
Pertinent Negatives
Local, non-radiating low back pain/anterior hip pain
- local joint dysfunction, soft tissue damage, and/or muscle tension
Tension/pain along the posterior aspect of the thigh and calf of the non-affected leg
- Muscle tension