To bias the peroneal nerve during SLR testing, which combination of movements should be used?

The appropriate combination of movements to bias the peroneal nerve during straight leg raise (SLR) testing is indeed the combination of plantarflexion and inversion.

In this context, the peroneal nerve, which is a branch of the sciatic nerve, innervates muscles that are responsible for dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot. When performing SLR testing, incorporating plantarflexion and inversion creates a specific positioning that can put tension on the peroneal nerve pathway.

Plantarflexion positions the foot in a way that may stretch the nerve as it runs from the back of the leg around the fibula, while inversion further positions the foot to apply additional strain along the course of the nerve. This unique combination effectively heightens the sensitivity of the test for identifying potential nerve-related issues, distinguishing it from other positions that either relax the peroneal nerve or rely on alternative nerve pathways.

In contrast, other movements such as dorsiflexion and eversion would not adequately place tension on the peroneal nerve during the SLR testing process. Therefore, employing the movements of plantarflexion and inversion accurately represents the best method for biasing the peroneal nerve during this examination.