Answer :
Most episodes of low back pain in a patient like the 50-year-old man described, especially with normal neurological examination, can be attributed to muscle strain or sprain. Hence the correct answer is option 1, Muscle strain or sprain.
The nurse practitioner should understand that most episodes of low back pain (LBP) are commonly caused by muscle strain or sprain. With a normal neurological examination and the necessity to frequently lift moderate weights at work, a musculoskeletal cause such as a strain or sprain is more likely than a neurological or structural cause like a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. Activities like lifting heavy objects can precipitate muscle strain and can also damage discs and vertebrae, but the majority of LBP cases, particularly in the absence of neurological symptoms, are due to muscle injury. Hence the correct answer is option 1, Muscle strain or sprain.
