Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are common injuries. Their symptoms are usually graded according to how mild or severe they are. X-rays are not usually needed to diagnose a sprain or a strain.

What is a sprain?

A sprain occurs when one or more of your ligaments have been stretched, twisted or torn. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue around joints, which connect one bone to another, and help to keep your bones together and stable.

Sprains often occur in ligaments around a joint, such as your ankle or your knee. However, the joint is not dislocated or fractured.

In a minor sprain, some of the fibres within the ligament are stretched. In more serious sprains, the ligament may be torn, either partially or completely.

A damaged ligament can cause inflammation, bruising and pain around the affected joint. The most common locations for sprains are the ankle, knee, thumb and wrist.

What is a strain?

A muscle strain is a stretch or tear of the tissue or fibres that make up your muscles. Sometimes, a strain is referred to as 'pulling a muscle'.

Most muscle strains happen if a muscle is:

Overstretched.
Forced to tighten (contract) too strongly.