LSAT Explanation PT 20, S1, Q23: Chronic back pain is usually caused

LSAT Question Stem

The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Most Strongly supported question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the passage and summarize any potentially confusing parts. The passage states that chronic back pain is usually caused by a damaged spinal disk, which often occurs years before the pain develops. About one in five people over the age of 30 has a damaged disk that shows no chronic symptoms. If chronic pain later develops, it is generally due to the deterioration of abdominal and spinal muscles caused by insufficient exercise.

To make this information more accessible, let's use a simple example: Imagine a group of five friends who are all over the age of 30. One of them has a damaged spinal disk but doesn't experience any chronic pain. If that friend later develops chronic pain, it's likely because they didn't exercise their abdominal and spinal muscles enough.

The question type is Most Strongly Supported (MSS), which asks us to identify the statement that is most strongly supported by the information in the passage.

Now, let's discuss each answer choice:

a) Four out of five people over the age of 30 can be sure they will never develop chronic back pain.

- This choice is incorrect because the passage doesn't guarantee that the remaining four friends will never experience chronic back pain. Other factors, such as obesity or bad posture, could also contribute to back pain.

b) People who exercise their abdominal and spinal muscles regularly are sure to be free from chronic back pain.

- This choice is also incorrect because, while regular exercise might help delay or prevent chronic pain, there is no evidence that it is sufficient to completely prevent back pain. Additionally, other causes of chronic back pain might not be manageable through exercise alone.

c) Patients rarely suffer even mild and fleeting back pain at the time that a spinal disk first becomes herniated or degenerated.

- This choice is incorrect because the passage doesn't discuss the immediate effects of a spinal disk injury. Even if chronic pain takes years to develop, it's possible that patients could experience mild and fleeting pain when the injury first occurs.

d) Doctors can accurately predict which people who do not have chronic back pain will develop it in the future.

- This choice is incorrect because, while doctors might be able to diagnose people with damaged spinal disks, the passage doesn't suggest that they can accurately predict who will develop chronic back pain. There could be other factors contributing to back pain that are not mentioned in the passage.

e) There is a strategy that can be effective in delaying or preventing the onset of pain from a currently asymptomatic herniated or degenerated spinal disk.

- This choice is correct because the passage states that insufficient exercise contributes to the onset of chronic back pain in people with damaged spinal disks. Therefore, exercising represents a strategy that can be effective in delaying or preventing the onset of pain.

The correct answer is (e), as it is the statement most strongly supported by the information in the passage.