In the US, 77% of all injury-related healthcare visits are for musculoskeletal injuries. Sprains and strains account for about 7.1 million cases of these health conditions.
Anyone can get a sprain or a strain, but they are more common in athletes and working people. These injuries can result from accidents, overusing a body part, or poor posture.
If you’ve been in an accident yourself or you feel sore and achy, you may either have a sprain or a strain.
The big question now is, how do you differentiate sprain vs strain injuries? Are there any specific locations wherein these injuries are more common? Most importantly, what should you do if you sustain either one of them?
We’ll answer all those questions in this guide, so be sure to keep reading!
What Is a Sprain?
A sprain is a soft tissue injury that affects the ligaments. Ligaments are fibrous bands of tissues connecting the bones to the joints.
There are approximately 900 ligaments throughout the human body. A sprain occurs when any of these ligaments get overstretched or torn.
What About a Strain?
Like a sprain, a strain is also a soft tissue injury, except that it affects your muscles or tendons.
There are over 600 muscles in the human body, all of which can sustain a strain injury. This is especially true for the skeletal muscles, which give the body its form and structure. These muscles are prone to strains, as they’re the ones that allow for voluntary movement.
Tendons, on the other hand, are fibrous connective tissues attaching muscle to bone. There are more tendons than muscles or ligaments in the human body: each person has about 4,000 tendons.
A strain occurs if you pull, tear, or twist a muscle or a tendon.
Sprain vs Strain Symptoms
It can be difficult to tell if you have a sprain or strain injury since both cause pain and tenderness. Both also result in swelling, restricted range of motion, and limited flexibility.
However, one indication of a sprain is if you heard something like a “pop” at the time of your injury. Bruising is also one of the common sprain symptoms that often doesn’t occur in strains.
By contrast, suffering from a sprain puts you at a higher risk of developing muscle spasms or cramps. Muscle cramps are involuntary but painful contractions and tightening of the muscles.
Most Common Sprain Locations
About two million individuals in the US sustain an ankle sprain each year. That makes the ankle the most common site of a sprain injury. Twisting your foot, an awkward landing from a jump, or walking on an uneven surface can lead to an ankle sprain.
Knee sprains are also widespread, especially those affecting the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). According to researchers, more than 50% of knee injuries are ACL tears. Such injuries can occur due to sudden pivoting that can cause the knee extreme stress.
The wrist is another frequent site of sprains, especially in slip, trip, and fall accidents. You can sprain your wrist if you fall and use an outstretched hand to catch your body and break the fall. The force of the fall and your body’s weight can be enough to tear one or both ligaments in the wrist.
Most Common Sites of Strain Injuries
Almost 65 million people in the US report experiencing back pain. Of these, approximately 16 million adults deal with chronic or long-term back pain. A strained back muscle or tendon, in turn, is one of the most common culprits behind back pain.
A back strain can occur due to repeated activities, such as lifting heavy items. It can also result from a sudden movement, such as when you swing your body to look at something behind you. Another cause is sitting or standing with your back hunched for long periods.
The back of the thigh, where you have three hamstring muscles, is also a usual site of strain injuries. Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) are more common among athletes, sports players, and dancers. However, anyone who pulls one of these muscles, such as while running, can develop an HSI.
The neck is also prone to strain injuries, especially in people with poor posture. Spending hours staring at a screen in a hunched position can place a lot of force on the neck muscles and tendons. Sudden movements, such as jerking the head back and forth or whipping the head to one side, can also strain the neck.
Treatments That Work for Both Sprains and Strains
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E.) used to be the common sprain and strain treatment protocol. Today, health experts say that the P.O.L.I.C.E. method may be more helpful for both types of injuries. It’s an acronym for protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, and elevation.
Stabilizing your sprained or strained injury can also help prevent it from worsening. Depending on your injury’s location, you can wear braces, slings, and supports. You can use the P.O.L.I.C.E protocol and stabilization devices for the first 24 to 48 hours after you sustain an injury.
Over-the-counter pain medications can also help ease some of the pain and swelling. However, you should see a doctor if you still experience these symptoms after a couple of days. If you only have minor or moderate symptoms, skip the emergency room and go to an urgent care center.
According to MedNow Urgent Care, urgent care centers treat most sprains and strains. These healthcare facilities also tend to bone injuries, such as minor fractures. If you suspect you have a sprain, strain, or a broken bone, have someone bring you to an urgent care clinic.
Don’t Ignore Sprain or Strain Injuries
Bruises and muscle cramps are two symptoms that differentiate sprain vs strain injuries. If your injury comes with bruising, you most likely have a sprain. However, spastic muscles after your injury is an indication of a strain.
Regardless of the type of injury you have, it’s best you follow the P.O.L.I.C.E protocol. This way, you can reduce the risks of making your injury worse. If this doesn’t help, be sure to check in with a doctor ASAP.
Looking for more informative health guides like this? Please feel free to browse our other educational resources on our website then!
