Commonly, the terms sprains and strains are used interchangeable when describing injuries, however they have two distinctly different meanings. In simple terms, ‘strain’ refers to a tear in a muscle or tendon, while a ‘sprain’ refers to a tear in ligament fibres. Due to the difference in injury mechanism, each injury is also treated differently.
Ligaments, muscles and tendons all act differently in the body.
- Ligaments are fibrous tissues that hold bones to other bones. Depending on the specific joint in the body, they provide differing levels of stability and support.
- Tendons are inelastic cords of strong fibrous collagen tissue attaching muscles to bones
- Muscles are the system within the body that provide movement, consisting of a band or bundle of fibrous tissue.
When placed under stress ligaments in the body will respond differently, some being so strong that a bone will break before the ligament will tear. After a ligament tear, the nearby joint will feel unstable due to a loss of some of it’s structural support.
Symptoms of a torn ligament include; pain and swelling at the site, it may appear red and warm to the touch with some occasional bruising. The pain may worsen when the ligament is placed under stress, or when movement occurs. When there is a straight tear, the pain may not be as severe when compared with a partial tear. The physiotherapist is able to diagnose the severity of a ligament sprain, this will help them create a treatment plan and give estimates of recovery time. Contrastingly, a muscle tear, you are more likely to feel weak rather than instable. The pain will also be isolated to the muscle, rather than near a joint.
A ligament injury will be tender over the site of the ligament, there are special tests that can be completed for any joint laxity. Treatment will be focused around increasing support and sometimes there may be a need for a brace, whereas muscle strains will benefit from early movement. For both injuries, during the acute phase the basic principles of rest, ice, compression and elevation can be applied. Applying heat is not recommended until at least two days after the injury.
A professional opinion is important for both a strain and a sprain. Both injuries are easy to re-injure during the healing phase if proper precaution isn’t taken! Give us a call to speak to a Physiotherapist for the best possible chance at rehabilitation.
None of the information in this newsletter is a replacement for proper medical advice.
Always see a medical professional for advice on your injury.