What's the Difference Between a Sprain and a Strain?

You’ve injured the soft tissue surrounding your bones when you have a sprain or strain. Ankle sprains are one of the most common orthopedic injuries, followed by wrist and thumb sprains. 

Workers who do manual labor are prone to muscle strains from heavy lifting, carrying, pulling, and pushing movements. Any action repeated over and over can result in muscle strain.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Shults with Coastal Empire Orthopedics treats many sprains and strains. Treatment for both is similar but varies depending on the severity of the injury. 

Difference between a sprain and a strain

When you have a sprain, you’ve stretched or torn a ligament, the tough band of tissue that links bones together. You’ve stretched or torn a muscle or tendon when you have a strain. 

Symptoms of a sprain or strain 

It may be difficult to distinguish between a sprain and a strain because symptoms are similar. The following symptoms characterize both sprains and strains: 

• Pain
• Skin tender to the touch
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Skin is warm or red in the injured area
• Muscle spasm or cramp
• Instability in the joint

Severity of sprain or strain 

We classify sprains and strains into three categories. 

Grade 1

A Grade 1 injury means you’ve stretched your soft tissue beyond its capacity. The injured area is painful and swollen. You have tiny, microscopic tears in the tissue. You can treat this type of sprain or strain at home. 

Grade 2

A Grade 2 injury means your soft tissue has a partial tear. You’ll have weakness in the joint, and it may feel unstable. You might hear the tissue tear at the time of the injury. 

Grade 3 

A Grade 3 injury means you have a complete ligament, muscle, or tendon tear. You likely heard a popping sound when it happened. You’ll experience severe pain along with swelling and bruising. You won’t be able to use the injured area. 

Treatment for sprains and strains

If your injury is mild, you can recover at home using the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, elevation, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers. 

You need to seek medical attention right away for any of the following conditions: 

• Severe pain
• Cannot bear any weight on the injury
• Can’t move the injured joint
• Hear a sound like a pop 
• If your pain gets worse

Call our office, and we’ll fit you in. Your sprain or strain may be severe. You may need a splint or a brace. We also want to rule out a fracture. 

Sports carry the risk of sprains; anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in the knee usually require weeks of rest. If the ACL is partially or completely torn, you need surgery followed by physical therapy. 

We prescribe a muscle relaxant if you’re experiencing severe pain from a strain. You’ll need to rest the area to prevent the injury from worsening. 

Call Coastal Empire Orthopedics or book an appointment online for all your orthopedic needs.