In this video, I'm going to demonstrate the slump test, a common neurodynamic test for the lower limb. Hi and welcome back to Physiotutors! In a review from the year 2010, the slump test was evaluated with ranges of sensitivity from 44% to 87% and ranges of specificity from 23% to 63%.

During the slump test, you are maximally stretching the neural structures of the vertebral canal and foramen. The goal is to elicit pathological neurological symptoms such as shooting pain, numbness, or burning down into the lower limb. A positive slump test can serve as an indication

for a herniated disc or nerve root entrapment. To conduct the test, ask your patient to sit on the long end of the table with the hips in neutral—meaning no rotation, abduction, or adduction. Then the slump test follows this sequence: The patient is then asked to fold the hands behind the back

and slump into lumbar and thoracic flexion while maintaining the head erect. Then, gently apply overpressure over the shoulders with one arm and ask the patient to bring the chin to the chest. Add overpressure to this triple flexion position with the hand and ask the patient to actively

extend the knee on the affected side while maintaining this position. Add passive dorsiflexion. That was the full sequence of the slump test. Your patient might display increased symptoms at any given stage of this sequence. If that is the case, you're not going to continue with

further sequential movements. The slump test is positive if neurological symptoms are reproduced. Some discomfort, like tension over the hamstrings with restriction in knee extension or tension over thoracic spine levels T8/T9, are non-pathological symptoms, not indicative of a positive test.

If you think the slump test was positive, as with any neurodynamic test, you should not disregard sensory-motor and reflex assessment. Now, if you want to learn more about neurodynamic tests, make sure to watch our videos on the straight leg raise test and the prone knee bending test.

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The SLUMP Test | Neurodynamic Testing

Physiotutors are: 
Kai Sigel, PT BSc (hons.), MT MSc
Andreas Heck, PT BSc (hons.), MT MSc
Max van der Velden, PT MSc
Ellen Vandyck, PT MSc
Kirsten Hoelandt, PT BSc, MSc Sports Physiotherapist

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The materials on this channel are not medical advice. The content is intended as educational content for health care professionals and students. If you are a patient, seek care of a health care professional.