seated straight leg raise test

seated straight leg raise test

A clinical test used to identify tight hamstrings and sciatic nerve irritation.
Technique
The patient begins sitting with hip flexed to 90º; with hands grasping the examination table on each side, her or she then actively extends a knee.
Positive test
• The patient breaks tripod or is unable to fully extend knee (implies tight hamstrings).
• The patient arches hi or her back and/or complains of pain in buttocks, posterior thigh and calf (implies sciatic nerve irritation).