Stretching as a Diagnostic for Sciatic Nerve Irritation
May 19, 2015 |
John Paul Catanzaro
Stretching can be used as a diagnostic to test for possible
impingement of spinal nerves. Straight leg raising, for instance, is
often performed to stretch the hamstrings and calves, but it can also
test for sciatic nerve irritation as outlined in the text Modern Principles of Athletic Training by Daniel Arnheim.
“Straight leg raising (affected side): With the
athlete lying flat on the table, the leg on the affected side is lifted
by the heel as far as possible. If the test is positive, the athlete
feels pain radiating down the leg as well as in the low back region. To
confirm that pain stems from a nerve root involvement and not hamstring
tightness, the leg is lowered to a point at which pain ceases. In this
position the foot is then dorsiflexed and the neck flexed. If pain
returns, it’s a verification of a pathological condition of the nerve
root.
Straight leg raising (unaffected side): The examiner
raises the athlete’s unaffected leg. If pain occurs in the low back on
the affected side as well as radiating along the sciatic nerve, this
provides additional proof of nerve root inflammation.”
For more information on how to perform this test along with several treatment options, check out Stretch for Strength.