FAU Advanced Health Assessment Practice Test

A positive straight leg raise test indicates which condition?

1. Nerve root irritation

2. Developmental hip dysplasia

3. Carpal tunnel syndrome

4. Peritoneal irritation

The correct answer is: Nerve root irritation

A positive straight leg raise test is traditionally used to assess for the presence of nerve root irritation, particularly in cases of lumbar radiculopathy or herniated discs. When a patient lifts their leg while lying down, any reproduction of pain along the distribution of the sciatic nerve suggests irritation or compression of the nerve roots in the lumbar spine. This is because the maneuver stretches the nerve roots and can elicit pain if there is an underlying condition affecting them, such as a herniated disc pressing on a nerve root. In contrast, while conditions like developmental hip dysplasia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and peritoneal irritation might have their own specific assessment tests and indicators, they do not commonly involve the straight leg raise test. Therefore, the positive result directly correlates to nerve root involvement, making it the correct answer in this context. Understanding this test and its implications is essential for diagnosing conditions related to nerve root issues.