Sprains And Strains

There is common confusion between sprains and strains. Despite sounding similar, the two are completely different and affect the body in different ways.

We’ll start with a sprain. This is an injury that involves a stretch or tear of the ligament and usually occurs towards the bottom of the body, like in the ankle or knee. A ligament is a tough band of fibrous tissue and its role is to join bones together. Those in the foot can become damaged quite easily due to the amount of weight that is put onto that area. Should the foot become unbalanced, there’s a chance that the ligament will overextend and this is where the sprain occurs. An example of this occurring could be in basketball, where a player jumps but lands awkwardly and they go over on their ankle.

A strain on the other hand affects muscles or tendons. It involves a muscle or tendon being stretched too far, resulting in a strain or sometimes a complete tear. The hamstring is commonly hit by strains as this is a muscle which contracts explosively at times, and this abrupt movement can sometimes cause a strain. For example, if an athlete was stationary and then attempted to burst into a full sprint, this quick jolt could result in the hamstring tearing.

Despite the differences in the injury, treatment is similar. For mild cases, ice can be applied while doctors can sometimes recommend over-the-counter pain relief. For the more serious cases, the area might need to be immobilized through something like a splint or surgery could even be required.

To conclude, there is a definite difference between a sprain and a strain. Despite this, the treatment and prevention methods are the same and both can result in short or long term layoffs.

Sports Injuries

Our injury database is continually growing. Click on one of the following injuries to view extensive information on the condition.