PM&R
Volume 1, Issue 6 , Pages 530-535, June 2009

The Active Straight Leg Raise Test and Lumbar Spine Stability

  • Craig Liebenson, DC

      Affiliations

    • L.A. Sports and Spine, Los Angeles, California, USA†
    • ,
  • Amy M. Karpowicz, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Spine Biomechanics Labs, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada‡
    • ,
  • Stephen H.M. Brown, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Spine Biomechanics Labs, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada§
    • ,
  • Samuel J. Howarth, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Spine Biomechanics Labs, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Stuart M. McGill, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Spine Biomechanics Labs, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ONN2L 3G1, Canada∥
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: S.M.M.

Received 17 December 2008; accepted 15 March 2009.

Objective

To determine the utility of the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test as a screen of lumbar spine stability and abdominal bracing (AB) ability.

Design

A biomechanical study of the ASLR test as a clinical evaluation of lumbar spine stability and AB.

Setting

Clinical research laboratory.

Participants

Fourteen participants who were currently asymptomatic for back pain and leg pain were evaluated.

Methods

Spine posture, muscle activation, and pressure distributions underneath the supine subject were determined.

Main Outcome Measurements

An estimation of lumbar spine stiffness, a direct correlate with spine stability, was obtained using an anatomically detailed spine model.

Results

AB during the ASLR reduced the center of pressure (CoP) movement on a strain-based pressure mat in lumbar rotation (P < .0125) as well as reducing directly measured lumbar rotation (P = .02). Active AB increased lumbar spine stiffness (P < .002). Regression analysis between stiffness and CoP movement suggested that different participants used different strategies to control torso motion.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the ASLR has utility as a screen of lumbar spine stability and AB ability. The ASLR maneuver can assess control of lumbar rotational movements in the transverse plane. Finally, this study demonstrated that AB can measurably improve the rotational (transverse plane) stiffness of the lumbar spine.

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  • † Disclosure: nothing to disclose.
  • ‡ Disclosure: nothing to disclose.
  • § Disclosure: nothing to disclose.
  •  Disclosure: nothing to disclose.
  • ∥ Disclosure: nothing to disclose.

 Disclosure Key can be found on the Table of Contents and at www.pmrjournal.org

PII: S1934-1482(09)00337-2

doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2009.03.007

PM&R
Volume 1, Issue 6 , Pages 530-535, June 2009

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