Final answer:
In cases of low back pain without radiculopathy, a nurse practitioner is mostly likely to find discomfort when directly palpating the paraspinal muscles, rather than symptoms such as a positive straight leg raise or abnormal deep tendon reflexes, which would indicate nerve involvement.
Step-by-step explanation:
When evaluating a patient with low back pain without radiculopathy, the nurse practitioner will most likely identify discomfort to direct palpation of paraspinal muscles. A positive straight leg raise is typically associated with radiculopathy or herniated discs, which would indicate radiating nerve pain down the legs. Abnormal lower extremity DTR (deep tendon reflexes) could suggest nerve root irritation or compression, which is not consistent with non-radiating low back pain. Pain relief with lumbar flexion could indicate spinal stenosis or other conditions, but is not the most expected finding in non-specific low back pain.
Non-specific low back pain is often muscular or skeletal in nature and does not typically produce neurological symptoms such as altered reflexes or positive straight leg raise tests. Instead, patients commonly present with localized tenderness when palpating the paraspinal muscles. This is consistent with strain or overuse injuries to the musculature surrounding the spine. As opposed to conditions involving nerve compression or irritation, these musculoskeletal issues are often managed with physical therapy, pain relief methods, and muscle relaxants.