Used to test the sciatic nerve for inflammation vs radicular pain or hamstring hypertonicity

Begin with the patient supine, the leg is passively raised with the knee in full extension until the pain is reproduced.

Pain in lower back indicates lumbar radiculopathy

Continue by lowering the leg by approx 10 degrees, and the foot is then passively dorsiflexed

If pain is reproduced with dorsiflexion, positive for sciatic neuritis