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Straight Leg Raise Test or Lasegue's Sign
Definition: Assessing the sciatic nerve, lower lumbar and upper sacral nerve roots for irritation.
Test procedure: The examiner lifts the patient's leg from the plinth by holding it at the calcaneum whilst keeping the knee straight. The hip is flexed up to 90°, if tolerated. The leg should be rotated medially. If no symptoms are provoked the ankle is dorsiflexed thus placing a further stretch on the sciatic nerve. If the posterior musculature is fully tensed then the leg is lowered by 5° before dorsiflexing.
Test findings: The test is positive if significant back pain, or radicular pain in the lower extremity is present. A positive test may indicate sciatic or lumbosacral nerve root irritation, for example due to a prolapsed lumbar disc. If the leg pain increases but without spinal symptoms consider piriformis syndrome.
Considerations: If the leg pain increases but without spinal symptoms consider piriformis syndrome.