• Login
  • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
MedcorMedcorMedcorMedcor
  • About
    • Medcor Health Navigation
    • Leadership
    • Wellness
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • Services
    • Onsite Clinic
    • Telehealth
    • Safety
    • Support Services
  • Resources
    • Health Tips
    • Insights
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Culture
    • Equal Employment and Diversity

Is it a Sprain or a Strain?

    Home Health Tips Is it a Sprain or a Strain?
    Next Previous
    Is it a Sprain or a Strain?

    Is it a Sprain or a Strain?

    By Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs | Comments are Closed | 16 September, 2020 0

    Ouch! I twisted my ankle! Did I sprain it? Or…did I strain it?

    Sprains

    A sprain is an injury to your ligament. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect your bones together in your joints. Sprains can occur when you fall, twist a joint, overextend a joint, or get hit forcefully. This can cause you to overstretch or tear the ligaments around a joint. Ankle sprains are the most common type of sprains, but you can strain the ligaments in any joint of the body.

    Symptoms of a sprain include:

    • Pain that is worse with movement
    • Swelling
    • Bruising
    • Inability to use the joint
    • Decreased movement at a joint or inability to bear weight

    Strains

    A strain is an injury to your muscles or tendons. Tendons are tough bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Strains can occur when you pull or twist a muscle or tendon. Strains commonly occur when you overstress a muscle, use poor body mechanics when lifting or moving objects, or have an injury.  The most common types of strains are back strains and strains to the hamstring, which is the muscle in the back of the thigh.

    Symptoms of a strain include:

    • Pain that is worse with movement
    • Swelling
    • Cramping
    • Muscle spasms
    • Difficulty moving
    • Weakness in a muscle

    What Should I Do if I Think I Have a Sprain or a Strain?

    If you have an injury and you think you have a sprain or a strain, contact your healthcare provider. Most sprains and strains can successfully be treated at home, and most people recover in about two weeks. In the event a sprain or a strain does not heal in a couple of weeks, it would need further evaluation. It is best to consult your healthcare provider to make sure you are getting the care you need based on your injury and symptoms.

    Strains and sprains are usually treated the same way.

    Your healthcare provider may recommend that you use RICE therapy for the first one to two days after an injury.

    RICE stands for:

    • Rest
    • Ice: apply ice the injured area for 20 minutes at a time, a few times per day
    • Compression: applying a compression bandage such as an ACE wrap or other device to the affected area as recommended by your healthcare provider
    • Elevation: elevate the affected area on a pillow

    Your healthcare provider may also recommend medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, or acetaminophen for pain or swelling. It is always best to check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking a new medication to make sure it is safe for you to take.

    Most of the time, you will not need any special testing, but if your healthcare provider thinks you have a more severe injury, they may order an X-ray or MRI.

    Your healthcare provider may recommend exercise or physical therapy once you start feeling better. The goal of therapy is to get you back to normal activity.

    Preventing Sprains and Strains

    Things you can do to prevent strains and sprains include:

    • Maintaining a healthy weight
    • Exercising regularly to keep muscles strong
    • Eating a well-balanced diet
    • Warming up before exercising and playing sports
    • Wearing well-fitting shoes
    • Using good body mechanics
    • Making sure you do regular conditioning exercises, especially if you have a physically demanding job
    • Stretching regularly

    This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies.

    References

    Cleveland Clinic, “Back Strains and Sprains.”

    Mayo Clinic, “Sprains.”

    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, “Sprains and Strains.”

    UpToDate, “Patient education: Muscle strain (The Basics),” updated December 3, 2019.

    Authored by: Mayuri Bhakta

    Share
    ankle sprain, athletes, exercise, rice, sprain, strain, tendons

    Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    More posts by Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    Related Post

    • Smart Snacking

      By Danielle Olipra

      Everybody snacks, and most people could tell you what their favorite snack is without a thought. Snacks can be good for you, but many of us are guilty of nibbling mindlessly on junk food andRead more

      Share

    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular

      By Danielle Olipra

      High-Intensity Interval Training or HIIT has become a popular workout trend—why is it so popular? Keep reading about HIIT and try a new routine to change up your workout. Convenience of HIIT HIIT training appealsRead more

      Share

    • Stretching

      By Danielle Olipra

      Physical activity can help you feel and function better and stretching your muscles can also help improve your overall health. Read about the benefits of regular stretches and commit to a routine that could improveRead more

      Share

    • Caffeine Withdrawal

      By Ilia Jbankov, FNP-BC, Medcor Provider

      Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in over 60 varieties of plants, the most common being coffee beans, cocoa, tea leaves and kola nuts. The medicinal and energizing effects of these plants were knownRead more

      Share

    • Seasonal Affective Disorder

      By Danielle Olipra

      Seasonal Affective Disorder plagues an estimated 10 million Americans every year. Keep reading to understand seasonal depression and utilize Medcor’s Guiding Health Principles to take care of your mental health this winter. What is SeasonalRead more

      Share

    NextPrevious

    Health Tip Updates

    Recent Posts

    • Smart Snacking
    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular
    • Stretching
    • Caffeine Withdrawal
    • Seasonal Affective Disorder
    Medcor
    Medcor provides health navigation through integrated services that include onsite and mobile clinics, injury triage, telemedicine, and safety staffing and training. Medcor helps employers and their employees navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better physical and financial outcomes across the United States and Canada.

    Recent Health Tips

    • Smart Snacking
      February 1, 2023
    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular
      January 25, 2023
    • Stretching
      January 18, 2023

    Insights

    • onsite-healthWhat is an Occupational Health Clinic?
      September 29, 2022
    • COVID Compliance OfficersCOVID-19 Workplace Safety
      September 14, 2022
    • Onsite HealthcareWhat is Onsite Healthcare?
      September 6, 2022

    Contact Us

    HQ Location
    4805 Prime Parkway
    McHenry, IL 60050

    Postal Address
    P.O. Box 550
    McHenry, IL 60051

    Call

    HQ: (815) 363-9500
    Sales: (888) 295-5180
    Media: (815) 759-5442

    Email

    Sales: sales@medcor.com
    Job Inquiry: recruiters@medcor.com
    Media: media@medcor.com
    Website Manager: websupport@medcor.com
    Copyright © 2023 Medcor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, Terms of Use & Privacy | English Spanish. Healthcare Privacy Policy | English Spanish
    • About
      • Medcor Health Navigation
      • Leadership
      • Wellness
        • Eat Real Food
        • Get Your Sleep
        • Handle Your Hygiene
        • Mind Your Happiness
      • Mission, Vision and Values
    • Services
      • Onsite Clinic
      • Telehealth
      • Safety
      • Health Security
    • Resources
      • Health Tips
      • Insights
      • Technology
    • Contact
      • Existing Customer Services
      • General Information
      • Job Inquiries
      • Media & Public Relations
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Equal Employment and Diversity
      • Interview and Hiring Process FAQs
      • Apply
    • COVID-19
    Medcor