Sprains and Strains

Muscles in the human body allow movement to happen by contracting and making joints flex, extend and rotate. Muscles attach on each side of the joint to bone by thick bands of fibrous tissue called tendons. When a muscle contracts, it shortens and pulls on the tendon, which allows the joint to go through a range of motion.

Sprains and strains are among the most common injuries in sports. A strain occurs when the muscle tendon unit is stretched or torn. The most common reason is the overuse and stretching of the muscle.

What is the Difference Between a Sprain and a Strain?

Strain - A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Twisting or pulling these tissues can cause a strain. Strains can happen suddenly or develop over time. Back and hamstring muscle strains are common. Many people get strains playing sports. Symptoms of a strain include pain, limited motion, muscle spasms, and possibly muscle weakness. They can also have localized swelling, cramping, or inflammation and, with a minor or moderate strain, usually some loss of muscle function. Patients typically have pain in the injured area and general weakness of the muscle when they attempt to move it. Severe strains that partially or completely tear the muscle or tendon are often very painful and disabling.

Sprain - A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones at a joint. Falling, twisting, or getting hit can all cause a sprain. Ankle and wrist sprains are common. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising and being unable to move your joint. You might feel a pop or tear when the injury happens. A sprain is usually caused by direct or indirect trauma (a fall, a blow to the body, etc.) that knocks a joint out of position, and overstretches, and, in severe cases, ruptures the supporting ligaments.

Although sprains can occur in both the upper and lower parts of the body, the most common site is the ankle. More than 25,000 individuals sprain an ankle each day in the United States. Symtoms of a sprain include pain, muscle spasm, muscle weakness, swelling, inflammation, and cramping.

While the intensity varies, pain, bruising, swelling, and inflammation are common to all three categories of sprains: mild, moderate, severe. The individual will usually feel a tear or pop in the joint. A severe sprain produces excruciating pain at the moment of injury, as ligaments tear completely, or separate from the bone. This loosening makes the joint nonfunctional. A moderate sprain partially tears the ligament, producing joint instability, and some swelling. A ligament is stretched in a mild sprain, but there is no joint loosening.

Treatment - Treatment of both sprains and strains usually involves resting the injured area, icing it, wearing a bandage or device that compresses the area, and medicines. Later treatment may include exercise and physical therapy.

For people with a moderate or severe sprain, particularly of the ankle, a hard cast may be applied. This often occurs after the initial swelling has subsided. Severe sprains and strains may require surgery to repair the torn ligaments, muscle, or tendons. Surgery is usually performed by an orthopaedic surgeon. It is important that moderate and severe sprains and strains be evaluated by a health care provider to allow prompt, appropriate treatment to begin.

Further Information Regarding Sprains and Strains

Chronic Ankle Pain May be More than a Sprain
Ankle sprains are a common injury after a fall, sudden twist or blow to the ankle joint. Approximately 40 percent of those who suffer an ankle sprain will experience chronic ankle pain, even after being treated for their initial injury.

Whiplash Injuries and Related Neck Pain Problems
Whiplash is the name for neck sprains to the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spines and is commonly associated with vehicle accidents usually when the vehicle has been hit in the rear. A whiplash injury can also occur during diving, sports, and many other everyday life pursuits. Whiplash can also be called neck sprain or a neck strain. The injury is referred to as "whiplash" due to the neck or back being thrown forwards and/or backwards.

Sharp Neck Pain could be a Strain or Sprain
Have you ever woken up and felt a sharp pain in your neck, the reason behind this may be sprain in the lower back area of your neck and this can be caused by bad sleeping posture. Neck strain or sprain can also happen while lifting heavy weights. Neck sprain is called irritation in muscles, tendons and ligaments in upper back and also in neck area. It is an irritation in the tissues of neck.

Causes of Ankle Sprains
Several things can cause ankle sprains. Ankle sprains are unavoidable and happen whether you participate in a sport or not. You could simply step on the sidewalk the wrong way and twist your ankle, causing it to sprain. Ankle sprains can happen any time, any place.

Lower Back Strains and Sprains
Specific exercises should be done after the pain has decreased to get your back into better condition. Exercises should be done that will strengthen the muscles of the low back, hips, and abdomen. They are simple, do not require special equipment, and can be done at home.

Repetitive Strain Injury - RSI
A repetitive strain injury (RSI) is cluster of conditions resulting from continuous use of tools such as computer keyboard, musical instrument and activities that demand repeated movements. Although the cause of 'inflammation' associated with cumulative trauma have not been clearly elucidated, many factors including mechanical fatigue involving ligaments, tendons and soft tissues have been implicated.

Sprained Ankle Treatment
In the ankle joint, ligaments provide stability by limiting side-to-side movement. Some ankle sprains are much worse than others. The severity of an ankle sprain depends on whether the ligament is stretched, partially torn, or completely torn, as well as on the number of ligaments involved. Ankle sprains are not the same as strains, which affect muscles rather than ligaments.