Use Of The Slump Test Over The Straight Leg Raise Test For Diagnosing Lumbar Disc Herniations In Physical Therapy Initial Evaluations

An appraisal was made on a prospective case-control study by Majlesi J, Togay H, Unalan H, and Toprak S, which determined the sensitivity and specificity of the Slump Test and Straight Leg Raise Test. Results of these tests were compared to the MRI results of the 75 patients involved in this study. Per Epi Info 2000, the Slump Test had higher levels of sensitivity and specificity compared to the Straight Leg Raise Test. The Slump Test had sensitivity and specificity levels of 84% and 89%, respectively. In comparison, the Straight Leg Raise Test had sensitivity and specificity levels of 52% and 83%, respectively. Although the Straight Leg Raise Test is sometime taught as the gold standard for ruling-in lumbar disc herniations, the results of this study indicate that the Slump Test may be a more accurate tool. This article supports the use of the Slump Test over the Straight Leg Raise in diagnosing lumbar disc herniations. The study assumes the MRI results are infallible, which may influence the results of this study in the case of misinterpreted MRI results