Slump test (neurology)

With the slump test , a neurological and / or orthopedic recording of findings is used to check whether a neural structure ( peripheral nerve , spinal cord ) has changed in its mobility. The most common cause of this is a herniated disc . Here the protrusion or even a worn-out spinal disc nucleus presses on the nerve. As a result, he is only able to move to a limited extent. If a nerve is squeezed by a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, it is not possible for the patient to bend forward painlessly. To do this, the nerve would have to move slightly caudally (below). Diagnostics are possible using imaging methods, such as a magnetic resonance tomography examination, but a statement about the actual functional restriction is only possible to a limited extent. The slump test ( English : to slump = to collapse, to go back; slump = sudden decrease) supplements this imaging.

Carrying out the test

Test position: sitting on the edge of the bench, thighs underneath

The patient is instructed to keep his hands together behind his body - the tester must ensure that the thoracic spine is stretched. The patient is asked to "curl up" from the head downwards. This happens until the thoracic spine also moves. The nervous system is stretched cranially. The tester holds the flexed head in the set position and asks the patient to straighten one leg with the foot drawn in (caudal pre-stretching). In the third step, the patient should move his head back into a neutral position. The test can then be repeated with the other leg.

The test is considered positive if the symptoms increase in the tense position and decrease again when the neck elongation is released. Functionally, it is then concluded that the sciatic nerve (on the side of the leg being examined) is not free in its normal mobility.

Test accuracy

The slump test, when carried out exactly, excluding secondary movements, has a sensitivity of 0.84 and a specificity of 0.83.

Web links

Slump test on youtube

Individual evidence

↑ Physiowissen.de Findings: is the nervous system affected? September 4, 2014, C. Lange
^ J. Majlesi, H. Togay, H. Unalan, S. Toprak: The sensitivity and specificity of the Slump and the Straight Leg Raising tests in patients with lumbar disc herniation. In: Journal of clinical rheumatology: practical reports on rheumatic & musculoskeletal diseases. Volume 14, Number 2, April 2008, pp. 87-91, doi : 10.1097 / RHU.0b013e31816b2f99 , PMID 18391677 .

[1] Physiowissen.de Findings: is the nervous system affected? September 4, 2014, C. Lange

[2] J. Majlesi, H. Togay, H. Unalan, S. Toprak: The sensitivity and specificity of the Slump and the Straight Leg Raising tests in patients with lumbar disc herniation. In: Journal of clinical rheumatology: practical reports on rheumatic & musculoskeletal diseases. Volume 14, Number 2, April 2008, pp. 87-91, doi : 10.1097 / RHU.0b013e31816b2f99 , PMID 18391677 .