Straight leg raise
Straight Leg Raise
The Straight Leg Raise (pronounced: strāt lēg rāz), also known as Lasègue's sign, is a test performed during a physical examination to determine whether a patient with lower back pain has an underlying herniated disk, often located at L5 (fifth lumbar spinal nerve).
Etymology
The term "Straight Leg Raise" is derived from the English words "straight", "leg", and "raise", which describe the action performed during the test. The alternative name, Lasègue's sign, is named after the French physician Charles Lasègue, who first described the sign in 1864.
Procedure
The Straight Leg Raise test is performed with the patient lying down on their back on an examination table. The examiner lifts the patient's leg while the knee is straight, a maneuver that stretches the sciatic nerve and reproduces sciatic pain.
Interpretation
If the patient experiences sciatic pain when the straight leg is at an angle of less than 45 degrees, then the test is positive and a herniated disc is a likely possibility. The test is negative if the patient can raise their leg to a vertical position (90 degrees) without experiencing sciatic pain.
Related Terms
- Sciatica: Pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve.
- Herniated disc: Condition which can press on the nerves in the spine causing pain, numbness, or weakness.
- Lumbar Spine: The lower part of the spine, consists of five vertebrae known as L1 - L5.
- Physical examination: A routine test your primary care provider (PCP) performs to check your overall health.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Straight leg raise
- Wikipedia's article - Straight leg raise
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