During the straight leg raise test, the patient is positioned how?

During the straight leg raise test, the patient is positioned how?

• A. Supine with legs extended.
• B. Standing with the patient bearing weight on one leg.
• C. Prone with the knee flexed.
• D. Sitting with legs crossed.

Answer: (A)

The straight leg raise tests for lumbar nerve root irritation by placing the neural elements under tension through hip flexion with the knee kept straight. To perform it, the patient is positioned on their back with the leg fully extended. The clinician raises the leg at the hip while maintaining knee extension, increasing hip flexion until pain is reproduced or the leg can’t be raised further. If radicular pain radiates below the knee, especially when the ankle is dorsiflexed, that supports nerve root irritation such as from a disc herniation. This supine, extended-leg position specifically targets neural tension; other positions don’t place the same stretch on the sciatic nerve and are not used for this test.

The straight leg raise tests for lumbar nerve root irritation by placing the neural elements under tension through hip flexion with the knee kept straight. To perform it, the patient is positioned on their back with the leg fully extended. The clinician raises the leg at the hip while maintaining knee extension, increasing hip flexion until pain is reproduced or the leg can’t be raised further. If radicular pain radiates below the knee, especially when the ankle is dorsiflexed, that supports nerve root irritation such as from a disc herniation. This supine, extended-leg position specifically targets neural tension; other positions don’t place the same stretch on the sciatic nerve and are not used for this test.