Lumbar Spine Exam

Question 1

What 8 things do we do?

Answer 1

1. Sanitize hands

TART exam would should cover:
2. Inspect and verbalize findings (posture (patient looks relaxed), erythema, bruising

3. Palpation of [skin, SP and TP, SI joint, paraverebral muscles]
4. ROM
5. LE strength test
6. Sensory test
7. Bilateral patella DTR
8. Straight leg raise test

Question 2

what to palpate

Answer 2

Palpate for tenderness:

1. Skin
2. SP/TP
3. SI joint
4. Paravertebral muscles

Question 3

ROM include

Answer 3

•	Tell patient to stand up and stabilize hips
o	Flex: bend forward
o	Extend: bend backward
o	SB: bend to their side
o	Rotate: cross arms and rotate core

Question 4

LE strength test

Answer 4

1. Hip flexors
2. Knee flexors
3. Knee extensors
4. Ankle flexors
5. Ankle extensors

Normal: +5/5

Question 5

Sensory tests

Answer 5

Bilateral Above knee cap: L4

Normal: +2/4

Question 6

BILATERAL Patella DTR

Answer 6

Normal : +2/4

Question 7

Straight leg raise test

Answer 7

• Straight leg raise test: tell patient to lay on their back ; pick up leg and raise it. do both.
• + test: pain or worsening of pain in the same leg; esp between 30-60 degrees
o >70: low back pain d/t muscle strain or joint dz
o Pain laterally >15: IT band
o >95: disc herniations at L5-S1