What characterizes a positive result in the slump test?

• A. Loss of balance
• B. Sharp shooting pain in the symptomatic leg
• C. Numbness in both legs
• D. Stiffness in the lower back

Answer: (B)

The identification of a positive result in the slump test is characterized by sharp shooting pain in the symptomatic leg. This test is commonly used to assess for nerve root irritation or lumbar disc herniation. During the slump test, the practitioner instructs the patient to flex their neck forward while the legs are held straight, which can stretch the neural tissues and elicit symptoms.

When a patient experiences sharp shooting pain in the symptomatic leg, it suggests that there may be irritation or compression of the neural structures, such as the sciatic nerve, which can occur in conditions like a herniated disc or other lumbar spine issues. The reproduction of this pain during the test is a key indicator that those structures may be involved in the patient's presentation.

Other symptoms, such as loss of balance, numbness in both legs, or stiffness in the lower back, might be important in the overall clinical assessment, but they do not specifically indicate a positive result for the slump test. Instead, the hallmark of this test is the elicitation of sharp, shooting pain that reflects the underlying neural pathway involvement.