title: When range of motion is not enough: towards an evidence-based approach to medico-legal reporting in whiplash injury.
abstract: Whiplash injury medico-legal reporting has traditionally been focused upon identifying restrictions in range of motion and identifying the presence of tender areas in the cervical spine in an effort both to diagnose the condition and to offer a prognosis. There have been considerable advances in this field over the last decade however that calls into question such a diminutive approach. This paper reviews the contemporary evidence base for the medico-legal assessment of whiplash injury and identifies a body of literature that strongly implicates a Claimant's physiological and psychological stress response as a key medico-legal marker in predicting prognosis following whiplash injury.
authors.affiliation: Kent Neck Pain Centre, The Tonbridge Clinic, 339 Shipbourne Road, Kent TN10 3EU, England, UK. Electronic address: c.worsfold@tonbridgeclinic.co.uk.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Worsfold
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D035881:Compensation and Redress; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Medico-legal; Prognosis; Whiplash