Accident and Injury Glossary

Injuries and Conditions

Whiplash

A term commonly used for neck-injury symptoms after rapid acceleration and deceleration, often during a collision. The crash history provides context, but symptoms, examination findings, and appropriate testing determine the medical picture. Learn more on our whiplash page.

Whiplash-Associated Disorder (WAD)

A clinical term used to describe symptoms and examination findings associated with a whiplash-type injury. Classification systems may group findings by severity, but the label does not replace an individual examination or determine a treatment schedule.

Soft tissue injury

Damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments rather than bone. Sprains and strains are the common examples, and they frequently do not show up on an X-ray, which is why a focused exam matters. See whiplash treatment.

Sprain vs. strain

A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, the tissue that connects bone to bone. A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon, the tissue that connects muscle to bone. Both are common after a crash.

Herniated disc (also called a bulging, slipped, or ruptured disc)

When the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through its tougher outer layer and can press on a nearby nerve, causing pain, numbness, or tingling. See disc injury care. Reference: Cleveland Clinic on herniated disk.

Disc bulge

An imaging description indicating that part of a spinal disc extends beyond its usual boundary. A disc bulge can be present with or without symptoms, so the imaging finding has to be interpreted with the history and examination.

Sciatica

A symptom pattern involving pain, tingling, numbness, or other symptoms along the distribution of the sciatic nerve. The underlying cause can vary and requires clinical evaluation. See sciatica after a car accident.

Radiculopathy

The medical term for the pain, numbness, or weakness that happens when a spinal nerve root is pinched or irritated. Sciatica is one common form.

Cervicogenic headache

A headache attributed to a disorder or dysfunction in the neck. Headache diagnosis requires the full clinical pattern because headaches can have many causes outside the neck.

Concussion (a mild traumatic brain injury)

A mild traumatic brain injury that can follow a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body. A direct head strike and loss of consciousness are not required in every case. Suspected concussion and danger signs need appropriate medical evaluation. See concussion after a car accident. Reference: CDC concussion signs and symptoms.

Post-concussion syndrome

A term sometimes used when symptoms continue after a concussion. Persistent symptoms require appropriate medical follow-up because headache, dizziness, concentration problems, sleep changes, and other complaints can have more than one contributing factor.

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar

The regions of the spine. Cervical is the neck, thoracic is the mid-back, and lumbar is the lower back. You will see these words on imaging reports and in treatment notes.

Subluxation

A term used differently across healthcare contexts. In chiropractic settings it may refer to a joint-function finding considered during a musculoskeletal examination. The term should not be treated as a universal explanation for symptoms or disease.

Delayed-onset pain

Pain or other symptoms that become noticeable after the initial event rather than immediately. Symptom timing varies and does not by itself identify the cause or severity. Read why car accident pain can show up later.

Imaging and Diagnostic Tests

Each of these is a test a physician may order. They are described here so you understand the terms, not because the clinic performs all of them. Plain-English references from RadiologyInfo.org, the patient-education site run by the radiology societies.

X-ray

A fast imaging test that uses a small dose of radiation to show bones. It is good for spotting fractures and checking alignment, but it does not show soft tissue like discs or ligaments well. Reference: RadiologyInfo.org.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Uses a strong magnetic field, not radiation, to produce detailed images of soft tissue such as discs, nerves, ligaments, and the brain. A physician orders it when a soft-tissue or nerve injury is suspected. Reference: RadiologyInfo.org.

CT scan (computed tomography)

Combines many X-rays into cross-sectional images. It is often used right after a serious crash to check quickly for fractures or head injury. Reference: RadiologyInfo.org.

Ultrasound

Uses sound waves, not radiation, to view soft tissue in real time. Reference: RadiologyInfo.org.

EMG and nerve conduction study (NCV)

Tests a physician may order to measure how well your nerves and muscles are working when a nerve injury is suspected.

Care and Documentation

Chiropractic physician

A licensed doctor of chiropractic (DC). In Ohio, "chiropractic physician" is a permitted title. A chiropractic physician diagnoses and treats within chiropractic scope and refers out when something needs a medical doctor.

Scope of practice

The range of care a provider is licensed to deliver. A chiropractor works within chiropractic scope and refers to a medical physician for anything beyond it.

Screen and refer

Recognizing symptoms or examination findings that need care beyond the current provider's scope and directing the patient to an appropriate medical provider or emergency service.

Treatment plan

A plan based on the history and examination that explains the proposed care, goals, and how progress will be reassessed. A responsible plan should change when the patient's findings or response change.

Range of motion (ROM)

A measure of how far a joint or body region moves in a particular direction. Range of motion can be one part of a musculoskeletal examination and can be reassessed over time.

Orthopedic test

A physical-examination maneuver used together with the history and other findings to explore a musculoskeletal or neurological question. No single orthopedic test should be treated as a complete diagnosis by itself.

Maximum medical improvement (MMI)

A term used in some medical, disability, workers' compensation, and legal settings to describe a point when additional substantial improvement may not be expected with further treatment. How the term applies to a particular matter depends on the clinical and legal context.

Narrative report

A written clinical summary that may describe the history, examination findings, care, progress, and other medically relevant information. It should reflect the medical record accurately rather than argue for a particular legal or insurance outcome.

Imaging gap

An informal phrase sometimes used for the time between an event or symptom onset and an imaging study. The timing of imaging should be based on the clinical question and appropriate medical decision-making, not on creating a stronger insurance record.

Gap in care

An informal phrase for a period when scheduled or recommended care is interrupted. There can be many reasons for an interruption. Its medical or legal significance depends on the individual facts and should not be assumed from the phrase alone.

Referral

Sending a patient to another provider, such as a physician, an imaging center, or another clinician, for evaluation or care beyond the referring provider's scope.

Insurance and Legal Terms

General information only, not legal advice.

At-fault state

A general insurance and legal label for a system in which legal responsibility for a crash can matter to liability claims. Ohio requires drivers to maintain proof of financial responsibility, but fault, coverage, and legal rights in a particular crash depend on the facts, policies, and applicable law.

Letter of protection (LOP)

A written payment arrangement sometimes used in a personal injury matter. A healthcare provider may agree to defer collection under the terms of the agreement while the matter is pending. It is not insurance, is not automatic, and does not guarantee that another party will pay the bill. See our letter of protection page.

Lien

A legal claim or right involving payment from property or proceeds. Healthcare-related liens and other repayment rights can vary by agreement and law, so ask the appropriate insurer or attorney how a specific obligation applies.

MedPay

Medical Payments coverage is optional coverage that may be included in an auto policy and may pay eligible medical expenses subject to the policy terms and limits. Verify whether it exists and what it covers with the insurer.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

A type of no-fault auto coverage used in some states. Coverage requirements and terminology vary by state and policy. Verify Ohio-specific coverage questions with the insurer rather than assuming PIP applies to a particular policy.

MIST claim

An insurance-industry term meaning Minor Impact Soft Tissue, sometimes used to describe a claim involving limited visible vehicle damage and alleged soft-tissue injury. The label itself does not determine whether a person is injured or what care is appropriate.

Third-party claim

A claim presented to another person or entity's insurer rather than solely under your own policy. Whether a particular claim is available or covered depends on the facts, policy, and applicable law.

Personal injury

A broad legal term for bodily injury associated with another person’s or entity’s alleged responsibility. Individual legal rights and remedies depend on the facts and applicable law. For the healthcare side, see our personal injury chiropractor page.