Straining to explain the different injuries

How do you know if you have a strain or a sprain and how do you treat either injury?

What’s the difference between a sprain and a strain?

Ligaments – fibrous band of connective tissue that joins the end of one bone with another – stabilise and support the body’s joints. A sprain occurs when a ligament tears and/or stretches. A strain is an injury of a muscle and/or tendon. Tendons are the fibrous cords of tissue that attach muscles to bone.

What causes sprains and strains?

A sprain is most usually caused by direct or indirect trauma that knocks a joint out of position. As a result, the ligament can become overstretched. This injury can occur when a person lands on an outstretched arm, jumps up and lands on the side of the foot or runs on an uneven surface.

Acute strains are caused by a direct blow to the body, overstretching or excessive muscle contraction. Chronic strain can occur with prolonged, repetitive overuse of muscles and tendons.

What are the signs of a sprain?

While the intensity varies, pain, bruising, swelling and inflammation are common signs of sprains. Sometimes a tear or pop in the joint may be felt at the time of injury.

A severe sprain can cause 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.

What are the signs of a strain?

Typical signs of a strain include pain, muscle spasm, muscle weakness, swelling, inflam- mation and cramping. There are various degrees of strain. In severe strains, the muscle and/or tendon can be partially or completely ruptured.

In a moderate strain some muscle function may be lost. This is as a result of the muscle and tendon becoming overstretched and slightly torn. With a mild strain, the muscle and/or tendon is only slightly stretched or pulled.

How are sprains and strains treated?

In common with other soft tissue injuries, rest, ice, compression and elevation will usually help minimise the damage. In anything but mild cases of both sprains and strains it is important to have the injury medically evaluated to confirm the diagnosis and establish a treatment and rehabilitation plan.

Severe injuries may require surgery or immobilisation followed by therapy. Mild sprains and strains may require rehabilitation exercises and activity modification during recovery.