The straight leg raise test helps determine if a low back pain sufferer has symptoms consistent with a herniated disc. The test involves lifting the leg while lying down, and pain felt between 30-70 degrees may indicate a herniated disc. A physician must interpret the results.
A straight leg raise is a test used by medical professionals to help determine if a low back pain sufferer is experiencing symptoms consistent with a herniated disc in the spine. A herniated disc occurs when a spinal disc, which is a gelatinous capsule located between the vertebrae, begins to swell and press against various nerves. The straight leg raise is just one test used to help determine if a patient is suffering from a herniated disc; it cannot, by itself, be used as a positive determination.
To perform a straight leg raise test, the patient lies on their back with their legs together and their arms at their sides. The test can be performed in two different ways: it can be done passively or actively. In the passive test, a doctor will grab the patient’s leg and lift it with the knee remaining straight. In the active test, a similar motion will occur, but the patient will actively lift the leg rather than relying on the physician to lift the leg. The test results depend on whether the patient experiences pain when performing the straight leg raise.
Nerve pain is the most common type of pain felt when raising a straight leg. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down the back of each leg, and is most often affected when a herniated disc occurs. Pain in the feet, legs, buttocks, or even the lower back can occur due to a herniated disc; The straight leg raise is a test used to find out if the sciatic nerve is being compressed or otherwise damaged due to a herniated disc.
A physician must be present to interpret the test results. If you feel pain when your leg is bent between 30 and 70 degrees, the cause is likely a herniated disc, but if you feel pain before your leg reaches the 30 degree mark, it is likely the underlying cause pain is something other than a herniated disc. The spinal nerve root is stretched during exercise, but usually not until the leg reaches the 30-degree mark. If pain is felt earlier, the nerve root has not been stretched sufficiently and therefore will not cause pain yet.
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