In the prone straight leg raise protocol, the leg is lifted to approximately how many centimeters?

In the prone straight leg raise protocol, the leg is lifted to approximately how many centimeters?

• A. Approximately 40 cm.
• B. Approximately 10 cm.
• C. Approximately 20 cm.
• D. Approximately 60 cm.

Answer: (C)

In the prone straight leg raise, a standardized lift height is used to assess hamstring flexibility while keeping the pelvis and lower back stable. Lifting the leg to about 20 cm from the table provides enough stretch on the hamstrings to reveal tightness without causing compensations from the hip or spine. If the leg is raised much higher, the hip may flex or the pelvis tilt, which would bias the result. If it’s raised too little, you might not detect mild tightness. Therefore, roughly 20 cm is the typical target because it balances sensitivity with maintaining stable alignment.

In the prone straight leg raise, a standardized lift height is used to assess hamstring flexibility while keeping the pelvis and lower back stable. Lifting the leg to about 20 cm from the table provides enough stretch on the hamstrings to reveal tightness without causing compensations from the hip or spine. If the leg is raised much higher, the hip may flex or the pelvis tilt, which would bias the result. If it’s raised too little, you might not detect mild tightness. Therefore, roughly 20 cm is the typical target because it balances sensitivity with maintaining stable alignment.