title: Myofascial-entheseal dysfunction in chronic whiplash injury: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document any consistent clinical findings in a large cohort of patients with whiplash associated disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-year observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large orthopaedic medicolegal practice in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  1025 consecutive cases of chronic whiplash associated disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF THE CLINICAL FEATURES OF WHIPLASH ASSOCIATED DISORDER: detailed examination
  
  
  RESULTS
  THREE CONSISTENT CLINICAL FEATURES: neck pain; reduced cervical spine range of motion; and myofascial-entheseal dysfunction. With regards to the myofascial-entheseal dysfunction there were trigger points in the upper, middle or lower trapezius; with or without enthesopathy in the lower or middle trapezius.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of this large observational experience we propose a clinically-based definition of chronic whiplash associated disorder: a painful syndrome following acceleration-deceleration injury with neck stiffness; and myofascial-entheseal dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon ,  The Wellington Hospital ,  London NW8 9LE ,  UK.
authors.forename: Qmk
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bismil
authors.forename: Msk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bismil