Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains simply describes injuries sustained to the soft tissues in your body. By soft tissues we commonly mean ligaments, tendons, muscles and joint capsules. Although bone and cartilage are essentially soft tissues they don’t get sprained or strained.
What is the difference between sprains and strains?
The main difference between a sprain and a strain depends upon the type of tissue being injured. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments and capsule of a joint in the body. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon.
What are the most common types of sprains and strains?
Sprains and strains are a very common presentation that we treat in our physiotherapy clinic on a daily basis. The most common sprains include ankles, wrists, and knees. In fact, about 25000 people are believed to sprain an ankle every day. The most common strains occur in the calf and hamstring muscles. Often these injuries occur due to minor injuries when playing sports or from innocuous events like misjudging a step or quickly reaching for something.
Diagnosis
When assessing sprains and strains physiotherapists will often aim to diagnose the extent of the injury along with the structure. They are classified as follows:
| Grade I (Mild): Tissue is stretched. | Grade II (Moderate): Involves stretching and some tearing of tissue | Grade III (Severe): Complete tearing of tissue. |
| – Slight swelling (hardly noticeable) – Mild loss of range of motion (ability to move in various directions) and strength (0 – 25%) – No decrease in stability | – Moderate swelling (may look “baseball” size) – Usually includes some bruising – Moderate loss of range of motion and strength (25 – 75%) – Some decrease in stability | – Significant swelling and bruising – Near complete loss of range of motion and strength (75 – 100%) – Marked decrease in stability |
Commonly grade 1 sprains and strains with take approx 2-4 weeks to recover, grade 2 approx 6-12 weeks, and grade 3 potentially months, certainly if requiring surgical treatment.
In more severe cases of sprains and strains further investigation is often used to clarify the diagnosis and extent of injury. X-ray, MRI, CT Scans and Ultrasound can be referred for. Take a look here for more information on our specialist service of Ultrasound Diagnostics.
How to treat sprains and strains?
In the acute phase after a sprain or strain it’s key to follow the ‘POLICE’ protocol in the initial 48-72 hours:
- Protect > for example, using a support, taping, crutches or stick to protect the injured area
- Optimal Load > general rest and offloading for the next few days, before steadily reintroducing movement as pain allows
- Ice > cold compress for 10-15mins every 2-3 hours to aid pain relief and reduce inflammation
- Compression > compress the injured area with an elastic, tubular bandage to slow the swelling
- Elevation > raise and support the injured area above the level of your heart to reduce swelling
Once out of the acute phase, the best treatment will depend upon factors such as the severity of the injury and the type of activities you need to get back to. A physiotherapist will be able to guide you through your recovery.
If you’re suffering from a sprain or strain book an appointment here for a detailed assessment and personalised treatment plan. For further information please call us on 0114 267 8181 or email [email protected]
