Test
Becterew’s Test
Patient Position
Seated
Bowstring Test
Supine
Bragard’s
Supine
Ely’s Test
Prone
Dr. flexes the knee of the affected leg to 90
degrees. Guide the heel of the affected leg towards
the opposite buttock. After flexion, the thigh can
be hyperextended.
Fajersztajn’s or
Well Leg Raise
Supine
Dr. performs a SLR on the unaffected leg. Then
perform Bragard’s.
Femoral Nerve Traction
Side Posture
Kemp’s Test
Seated or
Standing
Patient’s arms
folded across
their chest
Supine
Patient lies on unaffected side. Have the patient
straighten the back and flex their neck. The
affected leg is extended at the hip approximately 15
degrees.
Dr. anchor pelvis on affected side with back of
hand. (Use the same side hand of the affected side
of the patient.) Grasp the patient’s shoulder with
other hand. Rotate the patient’s trunk and rotate
toward the affected side.
Dr. place hand under ankle of affected leg and the
other hand at the knee. The hip and knee are flexed
to 90 degrees. (Pain should not be elicited here).
Extend the patients knee.
Lasegue’s Test
Procedure
Have the patient attempt to extend each leg one at a
time. The Dr. resists the patient’s attempts at hip
flexion with downward pressure on the thigh. Test
both sides. Then have patient extend both legs
together.
Dr. places the patient’s affected leg on top of their
shoulder, then exert a firm pressure near the
insertion of the hamstring muscles. If pain is
elicited, move to the popliteal fossa.
If a SLR is positive, the affected leg is lowered just
below the angle of pain production and is held by
the Dr. Then the Dr. will dorsiflex the foot.
Findings
+ Test indicates sciatica, disc lesion,
exostoses, adhesions, spasm, or subluxation.
Extension of both legs will usually increase
the spinal and sciatic discomfort if there is
disc involvement.
Pain in the lumbar region or radiculopathy is
a positive sign for nerve root compression.
+ Sign is pain is duplicated or increased. This
is indicative of sciatic neuritis, spinal cord
tumors, Intervertebral disc lesions, and spinal
nerve irritations.
+ Test when pain is elicited in the anterior
thigh and indicates inflammation of the
lumbar nerve roots. With irritation of the
iliopsoas muscle or its sheath, it will be
impossible to extend the thigh to any degree.
+ Test if this causes pain on the symptomatic
side. This is indicative of sciatic nerve root
involvement.
+ Test is pain radiates down the anterior
thigh. This indicates a radiculopathy that
involves L2, L3, L4
+ Test if the compression causes or
aggravates a pattern of radicular pain in the
thigh and leg. This is indicative of nerve root
compression. Standing test should elicit more
pain than the seated.
+ Test if the maneuver is limited by pain. This
is indicative of sciatica from lumbosacral or
SI lesions, subluxation, disc lesions,spondylolisthesis, adhesions, or IVF occlusion.
Lindner’s Test
Seated
Dr. passively flexes the patient’s head onto the
chest.
Milgram’s Test
Supine
Instruct patient to raise both legs to a position
where they are approx. 6 inches off the table.
Minor’s Test
Seated
Dr. observe the patient when they are asked to rise
from a seated position.
Nachlas Test
Prone
Dr. flex knee of the affected leg to 90 degrees.
Guide the heel of the affected leg to the ipsilateral
buttock.
Sicard’s Test
Supine
Straight Leg Raise
Supine
Dr. SLR the affected leg to the point at which
symptoms are reproduced, then lower the leg just
below the point that produces pain. Then dorsiflex
the big toe of affected foot.
Dr. place one hand under the ankle of the affected
leg and the other hand on the knee. Flex the
patients leg.
Thomas Test
Supine
Toe/Heel Walk
Standing
Have patient flex the thigh of the unaffected leg.
Dr. observe posture of the low back and affected
leg. The lumbar spine should flatten; the opposite
leg should remain flat on the table.
Instruct the patient to walk on their toes away from
you. Have them walk on their heels coming back
to you.
+ Test if pain occurs in the lumbar spine and
sciatic nerve distribution. This is indicative
of root sciatica.
+ Test if patient experiences low back pain
that prevents them from raising their legs
more than 2-3 inches. If the patient can hold
this for any length of time w/out pain,
pathologic intrathecal process can be ruled
out.
+ Test if patient uses some assistance to
support himself or herself to relieve pain from
the affected side. This sign is often present
with sacroiliac lesions, lumbosacral strains
and sprains, fractures, disc syndrome,
dystrophies, and myotonia.
+ Test is pain is elicited in the sacroiliac,
lumbosacral area, or pain radiates down the
thigh or leg. This is indicative of a sacroiliac
or lumbosacral disorder.
+ Test is if the toe dorsiflexion reproduces the
symptoms. This is indicative of sciatic
radiculopathy.
+ Test is maneuver is limited by pain. This is
indicative of sciatica from lumbosacral or
sacroiliac lesions, subluxation, disc lesions,
spondylolisthesis, adhesions, or Intervertebral
foramen occlusion.
+ Test is patient cannot keep unaffected leg
on the table while performing the test. This is
indicative of a short iliopsoas muscle.
Weakness is evident if the heel drops during
the toe walk. If patient cannot walk on the
heels, foot drop exists.
Trendelberg’s Test
Standing
Turyn’s Test
Supine
Valsalva Maneuver
Seated
Instruct the patient to raise the foot of the
unaffected leg. The iliac crest should be low on the
standing side for support, and high on the raised
leg.
Dr. dorsiflex the big toe on affected leg, while leg
is rested on table.
Instruct patient to take a deep breath and hold it.
While doing this, have the patient bear down to
create greater intraabdominal pressure
+ Test is the iliac crest is high on standing
side and low on side of elevated leg. This is
indicative of a coax pathologic condition.
+ Test if pain is elicited in the Gluteal region.
This sign is indicative of sciatic
radiculopathy.
Reproduction of radicular pain is indicative of
nerve root compression by a space-occupying
mass in the spine.