A sprain is a stretch, twist or tear in a ligament. Ligaments are fibrous bands of tissue that connect two bones in a joint. A sprain can occur suddenly, such as during a fall. Common locations where you may sprain yourself include ankle, neck, wrist and knee.
While a sprain is an injury to a ligament, a strain occurs when muscles or tendons are stretched or torn. Strains are referred to as ‘pulling a muscle’. Both a sprain and a strain have similar symptoms such as pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, and difficulty moving the affected area.
Common symptoms of a sprain include:
A fracture is a break in your bone due to an impact, such as an accident, fall or sports injury. Although they share common symptoms, a fracture is more severe than a sprain or strain. You are likely to be in severe pain and unable to move the affected part. If you break a bone in one of your limbs, it may look out of place, such as being bent or twisted.
If you suspect your bone is fractured or you are unsure, seek medical care immediately. Your doctor is likely to order an X-ray to check your bone before any treatment.
You may experience a sprain when your joint is severely stressed. This can happen when:
A severe sprain may lead to a fracture or dislocated joint.
Treat a sprain promptly and allow it to heal before resuming physical activity involving the affected joint. This will prevent chronic pain or chronic joint instability.
To prevent a sprain:
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