Which muscle weakness is potentially indicative of herniated disc at L5?

The presence of weakness in dorsiflexion of the great toe is particularly indicative of an issue involving the L5 nerve root, which can be affected by a herniated disc at the lumbar level. The L5 nerve root innervates muscles responsible for the dorsiflexion movement of the foot and great toe, particularly the tibialis anterior muscle. When a herniated disc occurs in the lumbar region, it may irritate or compress the L5 nerve root, leading to weakness in these specific movements.

Patients may struggle with lifting their big toe or foot, which can manifest as a difficulty in walking on their heels. This is a classic presentation of L5 radiculopathy or nerve root compression due to a herniation. In clinical assessments, weakness in dorsiflexion is a key finding that helps healthcare providers determine the level of nerve root involvement in lumbar disc disease.

Other options represent muscle weaknesses associated with different nerve roots or muscle groups rather than L5. For example, weakness in elbow flexion is primarily linked to C5-C6 nerve roots, grip strength is often associated with C8-T1, and hip abduction is typically related to the L5-S1 levels. Therefore, the weakness in dorsif