Medical terms
Medical terms in injury claims
Concussion, MRI, MMI, prognosis and the medical language that ends up deciding what your claim is worth.
18 medical terms
Activities of Daily LivingActivities of daily living, or ADLs, are the basic tasks of looking after yourself: washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, and moving from bed to chair.Chronic PainChronic pain is pain that lasts beyond the normal healing time, usually defined by doctors as more than three months.ConcussionA concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt that makes the brain move inside the skull.CT ScanA CT (computed tomography) scan uses a series of X-rays and a computer to build cross-section images of your body.DisabilityIn an injury claim, disability means what you can no longer do because of the accident: work, drive, lift your child, sleep through the night.ImpairmentImpairment is a doctor's measure of how much function a part of your body, or your body as a whole, has lost because of an injury.Independent Medical OpinionAn independent medical opinion is an assessment of your injury from a doctor who isn't treating you.Maximum Medical ImprovementMaximum medical improvement, or MMI, is the point where your doctors expect no further significant recovery with treatment.MRIAn MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses a strong magnet and radio waves to build detailed pictures of soft tissue: discs, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, nerves and the brain.Occupational TherapyOccupational therapy (OT) helps you do the everyday things an injury has made hard, from getting dressed and cooking to driving and going back to work.Permanent ImpairmentA permanent impairment is a loss of body or brain function that doctors don't expect to get better.PhysiotherapyPhysiotherapy, called physical therapy in the US, uses exercise, manual therapy and education to restore movement and strength after an injury.Post-Concussion SyndromePost-concussion syndrome is when concussion symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, poor concentration, fatigue or irritability, last much longer than the usual recovery period of a few weeks.PrognosisA prognosis is a doctor's professional prediction of how your injury will develop: how long recovery should take, whether you'll recover fully, and what problems might remain or appear later.Range of MotionRange of motion is how far a joint or part of your spine can move, usually measured in degrees.RehabilitationRehabilitation is the treatment and support that helps you recover as much as possible after an injury.Soft-Tissue InjuryA soft tissue injury is damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments or other tissue rather than bone.Traumatic Brain InjuryA traumatic brain injury is damage to the brain caused by a blow, jolt or penetrating wound to the head.
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