The contrabend sign and the leg-twist test: back pain research and useful clinical findings

Abstract

Objective: This review extracts two items from extensive research into low back pain to provide simple additions to low back assessment.

Methods: Techniques for the side-bend test and the leg-twist test are described in detail.

Results: Research revealed the correlation of a positive contrabend sign with one type of lumbar derangement, and of a positive leg-twist test with a dorsolumbar junction lesion.

Conclusions: Use of the contrabend and the leg-twist tests highlight the more important and clinically useful findings from some extensive back pain research. The side-bend and leg-twist tests can be used in daily practice to help recognise the facet joint and low back strain syndromes, respectively. This, in turn, can help guide treatment. The use of these tests had not previously been recognised. The way in which the research evolved is also described.

Keywords:

• LOW BACK PAIN
• RESEARCH
• OPINION
• SIDE-BEND CONTRABEND TEST
• TEST
• FACET JOINT SYNDROME
• LEG-TWIST TEST
• DORSOLUMBAR JUNCTION
• TWO LEVEL STRAIN PATTERN