What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?

Soft tissue refers to everything other than bone: muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and cartilage. In car accidents, sudden forces strain and tear these structures throughout the body. Despite the seemingly benign term, these injuries cause significant, lasting pain and functional limitation.

Why Insurers Minimize Them

Soft tissue injuries are invisible on X-ray. Without proper imaging (MRI) and clinical documentation, they're easy for insurance companies to dismiss as minor or pre-existing. Comprehensive documentation from a facility experienced in PI cases is essential.

Muscle Strain
Overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers. Pain, spasm, and reduced function.
Ligament Sprain
Stretching or tearing of ligaments. Ranges from mild to complete rupture.
Tendon Injury
Rotator cuff, Achilles, and other tendons vulnerable to accident forces.
Disc Injury
Herniations and bulges are soft tissue injuries requiring MRI for diagnosis.

Why MRI Changes Everything

MRI reveals what X-ray misses: ligament tears, tendon damage, disc pathology, and cartilage injuries. A proper MAIC soft tissue diagnosis includes physical examination, functional assessment, and MRI interpreted by a board-certified radiologist with a report correlating findings to the accident mechanism.