Sprains and Strains
Soon the weather will be warming up and we will all be heading outside to begin exercising and doing the activities we love. After being inside all winter, heading outside to run, bike or play your favorite sport can sometimes lead to a joint sprain or a muscle strain.
We hear of ankle sprains and muscle strains most commonly. Let's first define what a sprain and strain are. A sprain is a stretching or tearing of a ligament, which is the tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects one bone to another. A strain is a stretching or tearing of a muscle fiber or fibers. Both occur when the body is put under stress. The stress could either be from a single traumatic event, such as a fall, or from repetitive motions over time which slowly causes damage to the ligament, tendon or muscle tissue. There are factors which put you more at risk to incur a sprain/strain. These include being overweight, inactive and in poor overall health. Also, not warming up or stretching your muscles out prior to an intense activity can lead to a sprain or strain.
Whether you have a sprain or a strain, the symptoms are very similar. Pain is always going to be your first indication that something is wrong. You may have pain immediately after the traumatic event or, in the case of repetitive injury, a specific activity or motion may become consistently painful after a certain number of repetitions. Swelling is the other common symptom. You may have rapid swelling around a joint which may or may not come with bruising. Stiffness and difficulty moving the affected joint or body part will likely follow. Because of the pain, the body will start to favor the injured body part. This may cause the muscles around the injured area to become sore or go into spasm. The body will begin to compensate, which can lead to further injury.
When you have a sprain or strain, you should follow the RICE technique. First, you want to Rest the injured body part. If you had a traumatic injury, stop what you are doing and rest immediately. Ice the affected area to prevent swelling. You should always use ice, not heat, in the case of a recent acute injury. Compress the area to also help reduce swelling. For example, if it is a joint such as a knee or ankle, wrap it with an ace bandage, but do not wrap so tightly that you cut off circulation. It should not increase your pain. Finally, Elevate the affected part as best you can. This too will help with swelling as it will allow fluid to drain back up towards your heart.
If your tear is significant, you may require further medical treatment. Call your doctor immediately if you cannot bear weight on an injured joint. If you are able to function but you are not back to 100% after two weeks, it is a good idea to go to the doctor to get a medical evaluation. This does not mean you will need surgery, but sometimes resting the injury needs a little help. You may need to have the joint immobilized for a while to help it heal, or the doctor may recommend physical or occupational therapy to help reduce the healing time and make sure you return to being 100% functional.
Creative Therapeutics provides therapy for the rehabilitation of all sprains and strains with a doctor's referral. If you are concerned about a possible sprain/strain, call our office for a free 30-minute consultation with one of our therapists. No prescription is needed for the free consultation.
