Execution
- 1Position the patient supine with the legs straight and feet approximately 20 cm apart.
- 2Ask the patient to lift one leg approximately 5 cm from the table without bending the knee.
- 3Ask the patient to rate difficulty for that leg from 0 to 5.
- 4Repeat the test with the opposite leg and record the difficulty score.
- 5Repeat the lift with manual pelvic compression or a pelvic belt to see whether load transfer improves.
Positive outcome
The test is positive when the patient reports difficulty lifting the leg, commonly scored above 0, especially if difficulty improves with pelvic compression. The test assesses load transfer through the pelvis rather than direct SIJ pain provocation. It is especially relevant for pregnancy-related or postpartum pelvic girdle pain.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mens et al. (2001) | κ = 0.87; validity study | 87 | 94 | 14.5 | 0.14 |
| Mens et al. (2002) — severity-scale validity | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentASLR is not an intra-articular SIJ block test; it is a load-transfer and pelvic girdle pain test. Mens’ values come from posterior pelvic pain since pregnancy, so the high LR+ should not be generalized to all low back pain. It is useful as a functional severity and reassessment measure when pelvic load transfer is part of the presentation.
Moderate Clinical Value