What type of pain is evaluated through Kernig's sign?

Kernig's sign is a clinical test used to evaluate meningeal irritation, often associated with conditions such as meningitis. When assessing this sign, the patient lies supine, and the examiner raises one of the patient's legs while keeping the knee straight. If the patient experiences pain in the back and resistance to straightening the knee when the hip is flexed at 90 degrees, this is a positive Kernig's sign.

This sign specifically relates to pain that occurs in the knee during extension, as the action of extending the knee while the hip is flexed can exacerbate meningeal irritation. The presence of this pain can indicate issues affecting the central nervous system, particularly indicating that inflammation of the meninges might be present.

In contrast, arm pain, abdominal pain, and neck pain do not directly relate to the mechanism being tested by Kernig's sign.