Introduction

The examination of a patient with lower back pain will focus primarily on the back but should also include:

• Neurological Examination
• Dermatomes
• Sacral Dermatomes (To assesses for herniation at the L4-S1 nerve roots)
• Nerve Roots with Knee Jerk and Ankle Jerk Tendon Reflexes
• Ability to straight leg raise
• Observations: heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry and temperature