http://www.fpnotebook.com/

Straight Leg Raise

Aka: Straight Leg Raise, Lasegue's Test, Lasegue's Sign, Test of Lasegue, Crossed Straight Leg Raise

Technique
1. Perform in two positions
  1. Supine Low Back Exam
  2. Sitting Low Back Exam
2. Discrepancy between 2 positions suggests Malingering
3. Flex hip from 180 to 90 degrees
Interpretation: Criteria for positive test
1. Sciatic Pain at 30 to 70 degrees
2. Aggravation of pain dorsiflexion of the foot
3. Relief of pain by knee flexion
Interpretation: What patient experiences
1. Radiating pain into the legs
  1. Suggests radiculopathy
  2. Higher likelihood findings suggesting radiculopathy
    1. Excruciating Sciatica-like pain
    2. Pain occurs at 30 to 40 degrees of leg elevation
2. Pain radiates into opposite leg (Crossed Straight Leg Raise)
  1. Indicates severe impingement
  2. Almost always due to a large disk herniation
Modifications: Lasegue's Test
1. Dorsiflex foot while performing Straight Leg Raise
Efficacy: Predicting Lumbar Disc Herniation
1. Straight Leg Raise
  1. Test Sensitivity: Up to 98%
  2. Test Specificity: Up to 61%
  3. Negative Likelihood Ratio: 0.2 (high Negative Predictive Value)
2. Crossed Straight Leg Raise
  1. Test Sensitivity: Up to 43%
  2. Test Specificity: Up to 98%
  3. Positive Likelihood Ratio: 4.3 (high Positive Predictive Value)

Family Practice Notebook

Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians.

Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers.

This page was written by Scott Moses, MD, last revised on 11/4/2008 and last published on 5/14/2013.

This is one of 5887 pages in the Family Practice Notebook