Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Sprains are injuries toligaments, bands of tissue that connect bones to each other and prevent abnormal movements. Strains involve muscles and/or tendons, tissue that attach muscles to bones and other structures.
This article will walk you through the symptoms of sprains and strains, what causes them, when you should get medical help, and how they’re diagnosed and treated.
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Symptoms of Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains have some symptoms in common and others that are unique to each injury.
The symptoms they share include:
Symptoms vary with the intensity of the injury.
Sprain Symptoms
Regardless of severity, sprains generally cause bruising. You may feel a tear or pop in the joint when it first happens.
Joint function varies with the severity of the sprain.
Some of the most commonly injured ligaments are in theankle,knee, andwrist.
Strain Symptoms
Strains do not cause bruising. Instead, you may experience:
A mild strain involves slight stretching or pulling. A moderate strain includes slight tears. Severe strains involve tears to the muscle, tendon, or both. More serious injuries mean a greater loss of muscle function.
Common strain locations are the neck, shoulder, lower back, and hamstring.
When to Get Help
Knowing when to get help is important. Many sprains and strains can be managed with simple steps on your own. But you should get checked to make sure it’s not something more serious.
You should get medical attention if:
Many sports put you at risk for sprains and strains, including:
These injuries can also occur with everyday activities, such as:
You can end up with a sprain or strain from any activity that goes beyond your personal physical limits. If your connective tissues are tight or your muscles are weak, a simple activity like picking up something heavy or rolling your ankle may cause an injury.
Causes of Tears
Some illnesses can cause tendons to become weak, which makes them more likely to tear. These conditions include:
Long periods of inactivity can also make muscles and tendons weaken and stiffen, which makes tears more likely.
A healthcare provider may be able to diagnose a sprain or strain with just a physical examination.
They look for swelling and tender spots, check your range of motion, and press on the affected area. This can be extremely painful, but it’s necessary for a diagnosis.
They may send you forX-raysto rule out a broken bone. An ultrasound ormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)can show how badly soft tissues are damaged.
Typically, healthcare providers classify the severity of ligament injuries as follows:
Treating sprains and strainsoften involves the RICE method. That stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You may also want to take a pain reliever.
More severe injuries may require additional treatments, however.
Rest
The first 24 to 48 hours after the injury is a critical treatment period. Rest as much as possible.
For milder injuries, you may be able to gradually start using an injured extremity within a couple of days. Still, avoid any activities that cause pain.
For a more serious injury, your healthcare provider may tell you not to use the injured body part for longer. Be sure to follow the instructions you’re given.
You may need to use a splint, sling, brace, or crutches to adequately rest the affected area.
Ice
For the first 48 hours post-injury, ice the sprain or strain 20 minutes at a time every three to four hours.
If you don’t have an ice pack available, you can use a bag of frozen vegetables or freeze water in a zipper bag. Place a soft cloth between the cold pack and your skin for protection.
Do not ice a sprain or strain for more than 20 minutes at a time. You won’t help it heal any faster and could cause tissue damage.
Ice Your Injury the Right Way
Compression
It should be snug without cutting off circulation. If your fingers or toes become cold, blue, or tingle, take the bandage off and re-wrap it.
This is good for something like a sprained ankle but may not be feasible or helpful for something like a back strain.
Elevation
Elevating the injury can help keep swelling down, which reduces pain. Try to get the injured part higher than your heart, if possible.
Anti-Inflammatories
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can ease swelling and pain in an injury.Over-the-counter NSAIDs include:
Options for Severe Sprains and Strains
For more serious injuries, you’ll probably need to immobilize the area for a while. This may be done with a brace, splint, or cast.
The time required varies depending on the location and severity of your injury. For Grade 2 and 3 ankle sprains, for example, the recommendation is strict immobilization for between seven and 10 days.
Once you’re allowed to move the injured part, it may still be weeks or even several months before you’re back to unrestricted activity.
In some cases, surgery may be needed to repair the damage. This is more common in people who are young and athletic.That’s at least in part because kids may be too active too soon after an injury.
Summary
Sprains are ligament injuries and strains are muscle or tendon injuries. Symptoms include pain, inflammation, and difficulty using the injured part.
Healthcare providers diagnose sprains and strains with a physical exam. Imaging may be done to rule out a fracture or assess the damage. Sprains are often given a grade of 1 through 3 based on their severity.
Rest, ice, compression, elevation, and NSAIDs are the standard treatment for sprains and strains that aren’t severe. In more severe cases, you may need to immobilize the body part. Surgery may be performed for severe tears in young, athletic people.
A Word From Verywell
Sprains and strains should be taken seriously. The better you follow the treatment regimen that’s right for your injury, the sooner it’ll heal.
Common Types of Sports Injuries
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.University of Rochester Medical Center.Sprains, strains, breaks: What’s the difference?National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sprains and strains.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Quadriceps tendon tear.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Orthopaedic Care.Tendon and ligament tears, ruptures, and injuries.Stanford University Health Care.Causes of knee ligament injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Sprained ankle.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sprain (muscle tear) and strain.Rush University Medical Center.Varying degrees of ankle sprains.Wound Care Learning Network: Podiatry Today.A guide to conservative care for ankle sprains.University of Connecticut Health: Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Foot & ankle: Sprained ankle.Hospital for Special Surgery: The Playbook.Sports injuries in young athletes: How to manage pain post-surgery.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.University of Rochester Medical Center.Sprains, strains, breaks: What’s the difference?National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sprains and strains.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Quadriceps tendon tear.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Orthopaedic Care.Tendon and ligament tears, ruptures, and injuries.Stanford University Health Care.Causes of knee ligament injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Sprained ankle.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sprain (muscle tear) and strain.Rush University Medical Center.Varying degrees of ankle sprains.Wound Care Learning Network: Podiatry Today.A guide to conservative care for ankle sprains.University of Connecticut Health: Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Foot & ankle: Sprained ankle.Hospital for Special Surgery: The Playbook.Sports injuries in young athletes: How to manage pain post-surgery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.University of Rochester Medical Center.Sprains, strains, breaks: What’s the difference?National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sprains and strains.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Quadriceps tendon tear.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Orthopaedic Care.Tendon and ligament tears, ruptures, and injuries.Stanford University Health Care.Causes of knee ligament injuries.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Sprained ankle.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sprain (muscle tear) and strain.Rush University Medical Center.Varying degrees of ankle sprains.Wound Care Learning Network: Podiatry Today.A guide to conservative care for ankle sprains.University of Connecticut Health: Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Foot & ankle: Sprained ankle.Hospital for Special Surgery: The Playbook.Sports injuries in young athletes: How to manage pain post-surgery.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Sprains, strains, breaks: What’s the difference?
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sprains and strains.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Quadriceps tendon tear.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Orthopaedic Care.Tendon and ligament tears, ruptures, and injuries.
Stanford University Health Care.Causes of knee ligament injuries.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Sprained ankle.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Sprain (muscle tear) and strain.
Rush University Medical Center.Varying degrees of ankle sprains.
Wound Care Learning Network: Podiatry Today.A guide to conservative care for ankle sprains.
University of Connecticut Health: Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Foot & ankle: Sprained ankle.
Hospital for Special Surgery: The Playbook.Sports injuries in young athletes: How to manage pain post-surgery.
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