Question:
What is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
Sprain vs. Strain: What's the Difference?
Sprains and strains are extremely common sports injuries, accounting for 4.5 million doctor visits a year. Over one-third of those are active adults between the ages of 25-44, and men have a 30% greater chance than women of experiencing a sprain or strain. So what is the difference? A sprain:
- Affects ligaments, which are the fibrous tissues that attach one bone to another, and can result in instability of the joint involved
- Occurs when a joint is moved beyond its normal range of motion or forced into an unnatural position
- Ranges in degrees, classified based on what percentage of the ligamentous fibers are involved
- Means that some or all of the fibers are overstretched or possibly torn
- Frequently involves the ankle, knee or fingers
- Affects muscles or tendons, the ropy ends of the muscles that attach the muscle to the bone it moves
- Ranges in severity, from general soreness or stiffness to an actual disruption of the integrity of the muscle
- Is classified depending on how many and how extensively the muscle fibers are torn
- Can occur when a muscle is made to work extra hard to overcome an unusual amount of resistance
- May affect any muscle in the body at any time, but will usually occur in the one most involved in the activity you're doing
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