ARTICLE - SPRAIN OR STRAIN? written by Outside Fitness Consultant Oct 2009
Did
you know there is a difference between a Sprain and Strain?
These terms are often used interchangeably but they are in fact different types of injuries.
Strains
- Strains are injuries that affect muscles
or tendons (thick bands that attach muscles to bones)
- They occur in response to a quick tear, twist, or pull of the muscle.
- Strains result from overstretching or over contraction.
- Pain, weakness, and muscle spasms
are common symptoms experienced after a strain occurs.
Sprains
- Sprains are injuries that affect ligaments (thick bands of cartilage
that attach bone to bone)
- They occur in response to a stretch or tear of a ligament.
- A sprain can range from a slight stretch of a ligament to a complete
tear.
- Sprains result from trauma such as a fall or outside force that displaces
the surrounding joint from its normal alignment.
- Bruising, swelling, instability and painful movement are common symptoms
experienced after a sprain occurs.
Most strains will go away after a period of rest but depending on the damaged cause to ligaments in a sprain, rehabilitation and surgery are sometimes necessary.
Ligament
Damage
Ligaments are tough as they have a very important job of keeping our
joints stable. Ligaments will not be damaged easily and will need a
bad fall or impact to cause damage.
Ligaments are classified as dense connective tissue, and they consist of a protein substance called collagen.
There are 3 types
of collagen found in the ligament:
• 90%
Type 1 collagen
• 9% Type 3 collagen
• 1% fibroblast
cells (the cells that produce collagen)
GRADE 1
SPRAIN
There is damage to a few collagen fibres, producing a
local inflammatory response. This is characterised by pain over the
affected ligament.
GRADE 2
SPRAIN
There is damage to a more extensive number of collagen
fibres. This produces a more marked inflammatory response characterised
by intense pain and joint swelling
The damage to collagen fibres is such that there is a complete rupture of the ligament. This produces intense pain, joint effusion and marked joint instability. Surgery may be necessary to restore joint stability