In the fourth edition of the Guides there are two methods of evaluating impairment of the low back after injury. The first is the DRE, or Diagnosis-Related Estimates method, and the second is the Range of Motion method. The instructions are to use the DRE method first and go to the Range of Motion Model only when having difficulty categorizing the patient, or when two examiners disagree on how to categorize a patient. In either case the Range of Motion method is used only to help decide which category is appropriate. The final rating always comes from the DRE category, never from the Range of Motion Model. The DRE method's philosophy is that the rating is based only on objective findings. Therefore, it is imperative that the rater understand how to examine the spine objectively.
Objective findings are...
