You are out hiking and twist your ankle. It hurts, but you make it back to your car without much problem. You notice you have some swelling and it is sore, so you head home for some good, old fashioned R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation). You pass it off, saying, “Oh, it’s just a sprain.” However, when your doctor checks you out the next day, he tells you that it is “strained.” Sprain vs strain, what’s the difference?

While many people use the two terms interchangeably, they are not the same. There are some distinct differences although many of the symptoms are almost identical. In short, when a ligament is injured it is called a sprain. When a muscle or tendon is injured, it is called a strain.

What Exactly are Sprains and Strains?

Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect two bones as they sit in a joint. For example, the tibia and fibula come together to fit in the ankle joint. Tendons join those two bones together to keep the ankle stable. A joint sprain occurs when these ligaments are torn or overstretched. The ankle is the most commonly sprained joint.

Tendons are cords of tissue made up of a dense network of fibers. They connect the muscle to the bone. A joint strain occurs then the tendons or muscles tear or overstretch. The lower back and hamstrings are the most common areas for muscle strain.

Both injuries are very similar so it stands to reason that the symptoms of the injuries are also almost identical. This is why they are so commonly confused.

Symptoms of Sprains vs Strains

The symptoms for each condition is very similar, but there are some differences.

Symptoms of sprains include:

• Pain around the area that is affected
• Bruising in the affected area
• Swelling in the immediate area but can expand to encompass more area
• Limited range of motion
• Decreased flexibility

Symptoms of strains include:

• Pain at the site of the joint that is affected
• Muscle spasm
• Swelling in the immediate area but can expand to encompass more area
• Limited range of motion
• Decreased flexibility

As you can see, the symptoms of sprains and strains are very close. The primary differences though are that bruising may occur with a sprain while a strain may elicit muscle spasms in the muscle that is affected.

What Causes Sprains and Strains?

Experiencing a sprain or strain every once in a while, is not out of the ordinary. We put our bodies through a lot in a day. However, there are certain activities that can make you more susceptible to movements that can lead to these injuries. They include:

• Exercise or athletic activities, especially those that are high impact
• Walking
• Repetitive motion for a long period of time
• Overexertion
• Jogging or running
• Slipping or falling
• Standing or sitting in an unnatural or awkward position
• Walking or running on unstable surfaces, like rocks or ice
• Lifting objects that are too heavy

The most common areas for these injuries include:

• Back
• Ankle
• Wrist
• Knee
• Thumb

How to Avoid Sprains and Strains

Sometimes injuries just happen and there’s nothing you can do about it. However, in most cases, you can take proactive steps to minimize your risks. These are some of the most common risk factors:

• Being in poor physical condition
• Using proper form when exercising
• Failing to warm up before activities like exercising
• Not using the right equipment for your workout or sporting activity.
• Maintaining a hazardous environment at home such as clutter on the floor or things you can trip over or slip on.
• Fatigue or overly tired
• Failure to avoid hazardous areas like floors that are wet and slippery or sidewalks that are iced over and slick.

If you have a sprain or strain and notice that the swelling has not subsided or if you still have pain after a week or so, you need to follow up with your doctor for Sports Medicine Care and to make sure you don’t have a more serious injury.

ACL injuries are some of the most common sports related injuries that a sports medicine doctor or a chiropractor sees. It occurs when one of the ligaments in knee, the ACL, is torn. If left untreated, it can cause the person to have difficulty moving their knee or controlling its movements because of the breakdown of knee support. When this happens the bones of the joint often rub against each other. Over time this can cause a condition called chronic ACL deficiency. Osteoarthritis can also occur due to the bones rubbing against each other, eroding the cartilage and meniscus. A chiropractor can help reduce the pain of an ACL injury and help prevent further damage.

What is an ACL Injury?

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a major ligament in the knee that connects the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone) in the knee joint and provides stability for the knee. An ACL injury does not occur gradually, but instead usually happens suddenly. Most often they happen when a person is playing sports and jumps, stops suddenly, or makes a sudden change in direction. Soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, downhill skiing, gymnastics, and football.

What causes an ACL injury?

Sports and fitness activities, typically ones that place stress on the knee, are the most common causes of ACL injury. Specific actions that can lead to the tears include:

• Pivoting when the foot is planted firmly
• Sudden stops
• Cutting or slowing and changing direction suddenly
• Landing incorrectly from a jump
• Being involved in a collision where the knee is hit or it causes any of the other listed actions
• Receiving a direct, sudden, hard hit to the knee

The resulting tear can be minor and small or it can be severe, including a complete tear. In very mild cases, the ligament may be overextended but still intact.

What are the symptoms of an ACL injury?

People who experience an ACL injury will often hear a loud POP when it occurs. Other symptoms of an ACL injury include:

• Severe or intense pain
• Swelling (begins in the first few hours after the injury)
• A feeling that the knee is unstable
• A popping sensation in the knee
• The knee feels like it “gives away” when bearing weight
• Unable to continue the activity they were doing when the injury occurred
• Loss of or decreased range of motion

Who is most at risk of having an ACL injury?

Statistically, when both men and women are participating in the same sports, women are more likely to sustain an ACL injury. Research shows that, generally speaking, women have a tendency to have an imbalance of strength in their thighs. Specifically, the quadriceps, the muscles in the front are typically stronger that the hamstrings, the muscles in the back. It’s the hamstrings that work to keep the shinbone from extending too far forward – the type of movement that overextends the ACL. Additionally, men and women athlete jump differently with women more likely to land in a manner that places extra stress on the knees.

How is an ACL injury treated?

There are several treatments for an ACL injury. Immediate treatment can help reduce swelling and pain that the injury causes. The R.I.C.E. model is the recommended self-care that the patient can do at home:

• Rice
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

In some cases, Robotic Assisted Knee Surgery may be recommended, but usually the best course of treatment includes physical therapy and chiropractic care. The knee may be braced and the patient may have to rest for a while before beginning physical therapy. A chiropractor can help not only treat the ACL injury, but also help correct any muscular imbalances that the patient may have.

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