Is It a Sprain or a Strain? And What Should I Do About It?
with Dr. Eric Malicky, M.D.
Read when specialist Dr. Eric Malicky advises total
ankle joint replacement.
A sprain is an injury to a ligament--a stretching or a tearing of connective tissue. One or more ligaments can be injured during a sprain. The severity of the injury will depend on the extent of injury to a single ligament (whether the tear is partial or complete) and the number of ligaments involved.
A strain is an injury to either a muscle or a tendon. Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain may be a simple overstretch of the muscle or tendon, or it can result in a partial or complete tear.
Dr. Eric Malicky, M.D., Orthopaedics, Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Advanced Healthcare
"I see patients who come in and cavalierly say they sprain their ankle two or three times a year as if it's nothing to worry about. These people need to go through a very thorough rehabilitation program after an ankle sprain and learn to minimize sprains."
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When chronic problems occur, talk with your physician or orthopaedic surgeon. The best advice is to seek medical treatment for any ankle sprain that causes a moderate degree of pain, limp or swelling. Check our
physician locator to find a specialist near you.
What causes a sprain?
A sprain can result from a fall, a sudden twist, or a blow to the body that forces a joint out of its normal position. This results in an overstretch or tear of the ligament supporting that joint. Typically, sprains occur when people fall and land on an outstretched arm, slide into base, land on the side of their foot, or twist a knee with the foot planted firmly on the ground.
Where do sprains usually occur?
Although sprains can occur in both the upper and lower parts of the body, the most common site is the ankle. Ankle sprains are the most common injury in the United States and often occur during sports or recreational activities.
Approximately 1 million ankle injuries occur each year, and 85 percent of them are sprains.
Signs and Symptoms
The usual signs and symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of the ability to move and use the joint (called functional ability). However, these signs and symptoms can vary in intensity, depending on the severity of the sprain. Sometimes people feel a pop or tear when the injury happens.
Doctors use many criteria to diagnose the severity of a sprain. In general, a grade I or mild sprain causes overstretching or slight tearing of the ligaments with no joint instability. A person with a mild sprain usually experiences minimal pain, swelling, and little or no loss of functional ability. Bruising is absent or slight, and the person is usually able to put weight on the affected joint. People with mild sprains usually do not need an X-ray, but one is sometimes performed if the diagnosis is unclear. For immediate first aid, follow the R.I.C.E. acronym which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
Read why R.I.C.E. works on most sprains.
When To See a Doctor for a Sprain
• You have severe pain and cannot put any weight on the injured joint.
• The area over the injured joint or next to it is very tender when you touch it.
• The injured area looks crooked or has lumps and bumps (other than swelling) that you do not see on the uninjured joint.
• You cannot move the injured joint.
• You cannot walk more than four steps without significant pain.
• Your limb buckles or gives way when you try to use the joint.
• You have numbness in any part of the injured area.
• You see redness or red streaks spreading out from the injury.
• You injure an area that has been injured several times before.
• You have pain, swelling, or redness over a bony part of your foot.
• You are in doubt about the seriousness of the injury or how to care for it.
