Slump Lateral Bending Test Diagnostic Accuracy in Lumbar Radicular Pain

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Slump Lateral Bending Test for MRI-Confirmed Lumbar Radicular Involvement: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

This observational diagnostic accuracy study will evaluate the ability of the Slump Lateral Bending Test to identify patients with suspected peripheral neurogenic pain or neural mechanosensitivity. Adult participants will be assessed using clinical examination procedures, including the Slump Lateral Bending Test and other neurological and neurodynamic findings. Thes study aims to determine whether this test may help clinicians recognize patients in whom peripheral nerve involvement contributes to symptoms. The results may support clinical reasoning in physiotherapy and improve the assessment o patients with suspected neurogenic pain.

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults aged 18 years or older.
• Patients with suspected peripheral neurogenic pain or neural mechanosensitivity.
• Presence of symptoms potentially related to peripheral nerve involvement, such as:
• pain;
• paresthesia;
• dysesthesia;
• symptoms modified by neurodynamic positioning.
• Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
• Ability to undergo the clinical, neurological, and neurodynamic assessment procedures required by the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Age under 18 years.
• Inability to provide informed consent.
• Presence of severe neurological disease or central nervous system disorder that may interfere with clinical assessment.
• Previous major surgery or trauma affecting the assessed body region, if it may compromise interpretation of the clinical tests.
• Acute inflammatory, infectious, or systemic disease that may explain the symptoms or contraindicate clinical testing.
• Severe pain or clinical condition preventing safe execution of the Slump Lateral Bending Test or other neurodynamic tests.
• Pregnancy, if neurodynamic testing is considered inappropriate or not clinically indicated.
• Inability to understand instructions or complete the assessment procedures.