Straight Leg Raise Test

Definition: A straight leg raise test is done by having the patient lie flat on a bed. With the leg straight, the patient should then raise their foot off the bed and hold it in the air. The straight leg raise tests the function of the the quadriceps muscle and its attachment to the shin bone. A disruption of the quadriceps tendon, patella, or patellar tendon can lead to inability to perform a straight leg raise.