Bragard's Test: how to confirm a positive Lasègue and rule out muscular pain

Bragard's test is almost never used on its own — it's the "second step" once the straight leg raise (Lasègue) test has come back positive and you want to make sure what you're seeing is actually neural tension and not just the normal stretch of the hamstrings.

It's a quick test, requires no equipment, and helps you avoid false positives that could lead to incorrect interpretations when assessing radiating low back pain.

What does this test measure?

Bragard's test checks whether the pain reproduced during a straight leg raise (Lasègue) has a neural origin (nerve root, sciatic nerve) by adding ankle dorsiflexion right at the point just before pain appears.

If dorsiflexion reproduces or intensifies the radiating pain, the neural component is considered confirmed.

Equipment needed

• A treatment table
• No additional tools required

Step-by-step protocol

1. The client lies supine, with the legs extended and relaxed
2. First perform a straight leg raise (Lasègue test): raise the client's leg with the knee extended until pain or tension appears
3. Right at that point (without raising the leg further), lower the leg slightly by 1-2 cm until the pain eases a bit
4. From that position, perform a passive ankle dorsiflexion
5. Observe whether the radiating pain reappears or intensifies with dorsiflexion

Common mistakes

• Performing the dorsiflexion at the exact same point where pain was already maximal (this makes it impossible to tell if the increase is due to dorsiflexion or because it was already at the limit)
• Confusing normal calf/hamstring tension with a positive Bragard sign
• Not combining the result with the rest of the neurological exam (strength, reflexes, sensation)

How to interpret the result

Result	Interpretation
Positive: dorsiflexion reproduces or increases the pain radiating down the leg	Confirms a neural/radicular component — supports a truly positive Lasègue
Negative: dorsiflexion only produces local calf tension, with no radiating pain	The initial Lasègue may be more due to muscular tension than radicular compression

A positive Bragard's test, together with a clearly positive Lasègue, raises the suspicion of nerve root irritation (for example, from a disc herniation) and warrants medical evaluation if other neurological signs are present.

Related tests

Bragard's test is inseparable from:

• Straight leg raise test (Lasègue) — always performed right after, as confirmation
• Slump test — another way to explore neural tension, more global, useful if Lasègue and Bragard are inconclusive

Why it's worth recording in your assessment

Knowing whether pain has a neural component completely changes the approach to training — programming for a muscle overload issue is very different from programming for a radicular irritation that's in a recovery phase. With Movalytics you can note the Lasègue and Bragard results together, and track how the angle at which pain appears evolves as the client improves.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bragard's test always performed, even if Lasègue is negative? It doesn't make much sense to do it if Lasègue is already negative, since Bragard's test depends on starting from a position with reproduced pain. Can it be positive due to an ankle problem? It's unlikely, but if the client has a significant ankle mobility restriction, it's worth keeping in mind so you don't mistake that limitation for a neural sign. Is this a diagnostic test? No, it's a clinical screening test that points toward a neural component, but a definitive diagnosis (e.g., disc herniation) requires imaging and medical evaluation.