LUMBAR SPINE SPECIAL TEST Flashcards
Describe SLR & dural stretch
● Passively flex the hip keeping the knee straight
with the client in supine
● Then, passively dorsiflex the ankle and ask the pt. to flex his neck
if someone is doing the passive SLR & dural stretch what would short hamstrings cause the patient to feel
generalized pulling sensation in the posterior thigh at the muscle bellies
passive SLR and dural stretch can also test for neural mobility , what would the patient c/o about
radiating pain from the lumbar spine down the back of the leg , there could be spinal nerve impingement
describe the slump test
● Patient’s posterior knees on back of table and together, hands behind back.
● Have the patient slouch, you place hand across scapulae.
● Have the patient tuck the chin.
● Extend knee through available, symptom-free range.
● If still symptoms free, can add ankle DF.
● Ask patient to raise head.
what is a positive sign for neural tension for slump test
if all 3 of the following components are met
● Pain/symptoms are reproduced.
● Difference in symptoms side to side.
● Symptoms change with moving a distal
component (i.e. raising head).
describe the Valsalva test
Pt holds breath and pressed down
what is a positive sign for the valsalva test and what does it indicate
pain ; indicated neurological involvement from the spine
describe the SI pain provocation test …
compression test:
distraction test:
sacral thrust:
thigh thrust:
Compression Test: pt in sidelying, press down on the iliac crest, towards the plinth; creating anterior pressure on the SI joint
Distraction test: Patient supine. PT crosses arms and places hands on ASISs. PT pushes B ASIS in lateral and posterior direction.
Sacral Thrust: Patient is prone. Therapist places hands overlapping on sacrum and pushes in direction of the table.
Thigh thrust: Patient is supine. Therapist places one hand under sacrum and other hand on patella of patient’s leg, which is in 90 deg hip flex. Therapist pushes in direction of the table, causing the innominate to shear on the sacrum.
what is a positive sign for the SI pain provocation test
● If 3 of the tests are (+), the sensitivity is 91% and specificity is 78%.
with the SI pain provocation test patients may have radiating pain where
down posterior side of the leg to level of knee
what does the quadratus test assess
quadratus strength ( and glute med) as a quick screen
describe the quadratus test
Test: Client lays in sidelying on the test side, but
up on the elbow. Ask the client to lift the test- side (downside) hip to align the back and lower extremities in a straight line.
(basically like a side plank)
what is the positive finding for the quadratus test
If the client unable to lift the hip…weakness is present- but it could be quadratus, glute med, motor control issue, etc.
what is the quadrant testing
placing pateint in different positions and adding over pressure if pain free
what are the positions for quadrant testing
o Flexion and slight right SB
o Flexion and slight left SB
o Extension and slight right SB
o Extension and slight left SB
