From PubMed Clinical Queries:
1. Diagnostic value of history and physical examination in patients suspected of lumbosacral nerve root compression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2002 May;72(5):630-4
Cross-sectional study of 274 patients with pain radiating into the leg. Analysis showed that the straight leg raise was not predictive.
2. Diagnostic value of history and physical examination in patients suspected of sciatica due to disc herniation: a systematic review. J Neurol. 1999 Oct;246(10):899-906.
Systematic review of 37 studies which found that of the various tests used during the physical examination of lower back pain, the straight leg raise was the only test that was reported consistently to be sensitive. However, the sensitivity values varied greatly and the review identified several types of methodological problems with the studies that probably led to overestimating the sensitivity.
Full results from PubMed Clinical Queries
