Muscle strain and sprain
Muscle strain is an injury, usually from a quick overstretching force, to a specific muscle or to the tendon that attaches that muscle to a bone. Muscle strain can either mean an overstretching of the muscle or tendon, or an actual tearing of the fibers. Muscle strain most often happens during quick or forceful movements, as in running or jumping sports.
Sprain is what medical professionals call an injury that involves the stretching or tearing of a ligament (ligaments attach bones to other bones) or the “capsule” around a joint. Sprains vary in severity. An ankle sprain is a common example of this type of injury. In ankle sprain the foot and ankle commonly twist or roll over to the outside, resulting in damage to the ligaments that attach the ankle bones to each other.
Strains and sprains are considered “acute” injuries in physical therapy, and they are often accompanied by pain, swelling, and the loss of motion or even complete loss of use of the affected body part for a period of time. Severe sprains cause instability in the affected joints and during the early healing phase patients with these injuries are often fitted with joint immobilizers (a cast or sling, for example) for a time to give the joint needed stability and to prevent further damage.
Physical therapy for strains and sprains often begins with methods to decrease pain and swelling if present. As healing continues, patients become able to tolerate gentle manual therapy to increase joint movement or muscle length. Gradually, patients take over their own stretching program with self-stretches and begin light resistance exercises to regain any strength lost during the time the joint or muscle was out of use.
Strain and sprain injuries can sometimes indicate an underlying muscle weakness or imbalance. Once the acute healing phase is complete, physical therapy treatment may include an assessment of muscle imbalances or weakness and any needed retraining to prevent future similar injuries.