Lasegue Drop Test

Published July 2, 2026 Read time 1 min read Readers 4

What is the “Lasegue Drop Test” used for?

Lasegue Drop Test is used to test for lumbar spine pain due to spondylarthritis, spondylitis, or disk herniation.
It’s also used to assess the sacroiliac joint.

The patient is supine.
The examiner performs the test on the affected side as in the Lasegue test, raising the leg until the patient begins to feel discomfort.
Then the examiner lets go of the leg from this position.

Suddenly and unexpectedly letting go of the leg precipitates reflexive contraction of the muscles of the back and buttocks.
It is primarily the iliopsoas that contracts, placing traction on the transverse processes of the lumbar spine.
Patients will report pain in the presence of disorders of the lumbar spine (spondylarthritis, spondylitis, or disk herniation) or disorders of the sacroiliac joints.
For a differential diagnosis it must be borne in mind that Lasegue Drop Test can also intensify visceral pain such as that caused by appendicitis.