The Inter-Therapist Reliability of the Slump Test

This study examined the inter-therapist reliability of the slump test. Six pairs of physiotherapists tested a total of 93 patients currently receiving treatment for lumbar and/or lower limb symptoms. Each pair performed two slump tests on patients during a normal clinical visit. The slump test was positive if the patients' symptoms were reproduced, and subsequently decreased with cervical extension. A second definition of positive slump required decreased symptoms and increased knee extension with cervical extension. The results indicated that the slump test has high inter-therapist reliability which is consistent with reliability findings for related clinical tests of pain