Strains and Sprains

Strains and sprains are injuries to the body's soft tissues. Strains are injuries to muscles and/or tendons, which are the cords that connect muscles and bones. Sprains are injuries to ligaments, which are bands of strong connective tissue that support the joints (areas in the body where two bones meet) and connect the bones to each other. Strains and sprains may result from sudden injury or from long-term overuse.

What Are Strains and Sprains?

Strains and sprains are injuries to the body's soft tissues-its muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They are everyday occurrences for athletes but can happen to anyone as the result of a fall, a twist, or any other sudden blow to the body.

Strains are injuries to muscles or to tendons, which support the bones and connect them to the muscles. Sprains are injuries to ligaments, which are bands of connective tissue that support the joints and connect the bones to each other.

Strains occur most often in the muscles and tendons of the legs and back: Hamstring pulls, groin pulls, and sore back muscles are common forms of strain. Sprains most often affect the joints, such as the ankles, knees, and wrists. Both strains and sprains cause pain, swelling, and inflammation. The injured area may also be discolored if it has been bruised and blood pools underneath the skin.

Most people recover from strains and sprains if they see their doctor promptly and follow the doctor's instructions, which often involve what is known as a R.I.C.E. protocol: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

What Are the Different Types of Strains and Sprains?

Doctors usually classify strains and sprains by the degree of damage done to the muscles or ligaments.

First degree:

A first-degree strain or sprain is the least serious of the three degrees and causes the least amount of damage or stretching of ligaments or muscle fibers. No tears occur in the tissue fibers, pain and swelling are minimal, and range of motion (movement up and down, or sideways) usually is not affected to any significant degree. People who have a first-degree strain or sprain may experience some slight disability in using the affected joint, but on the whole, they can resume normal activities after a short recovery period.

Second degree:

In a second-degree strain or sprain, up to 80 percent of the tissue fibers are ruptured. The individual experiences more pain, edema, and reduced range of motion. Unlike first-degree injuries, two to three weeks may pass before the pain and swelling begin to show real improvement. Athletes who resume their sports activity too soon risk the real possibility that the second-degree injury will turn into a third-degree injury, which requires a longer recovery time.

Third degree:

In third-degree injury, a 100 percent rupture occurs in all the tissues that surround the joint capsule: muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A person with a third-degree sprain or strain can no longer use the injured part of the body and will experience pain and visible bruising. X-rays may show that even though bones have not been broken, they may have been chipped. Doctors call such bone chips avulsion (a-VUL-shun) fractures. Medical professionals usually tell patients to protect the injured area for 8 to 10 weeks and may order surgery to repair damaged joints.