The exam for back pain typically includes

Inspection

Looking for any abnormal curvature or prominences of the spine or warmth/ redness. You may be asked to bend in different directions or walk. If you are tender when pressed in some areas other than the spine, it may relate to muscle strain (once other problems are excluded).

If you have leg pain/ numbness/ tingling, you may get additional exam tests:

• Straight Leg Raising Test

  • and other similar tests such as crossed SLR, slump etc to reproduce your leg problem

• Sacroiliac joint ( buttock area) may be tested by Faber/ Patrick, Gaenslen, Yeoman tests