Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Straight-Leg-Raising Test, Ching-Hwa Chou, Chrong-Song Chou, Tao-Chang Hsu

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

A positive unilateral straight-leg-raising sign is routinely interpreted as indicative of a disc lesion. A review of the literature was undertaken in an attempt to more clearly illustrate the mechanisms and results of the straight-leg-raising test. It was found that a positive straight-leg-raising test has minimal value in differentiating a patient with herniated disc from other patients with low back pain and sciatica.