A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones at a joint. Falling, twisting, or getting hit can all cause a sprain. Ankle and wrist sprains are common. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising and being unable to move your joint. You might feel a pop or tear when the injury happens.
A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Twisting or pulling these tissues can cause a strain. Strains can happen suddenly or develop over time. Back and hamstring muscle strains are common. Many people get strains playing sports. Symptoms include pain, muscle spasms, swelling and trouble moving the muscle.
At first, treatment of both sprains and strains usually involves resting the injured area, icing it, wearing a bandage or device that compresses the area, and medicines. Later treatment might include exercise and physical therapy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Fractures and Sprains(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/fracturesandsprains/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/fracturesandsprainsspanish/htm/index.htm
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What Are Sprains and Strains?(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Sprains_Strains/sprains_and_strains_ff.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/Informacion_de_Salud/Esguinces_y_desgarros/default.asp
- Questions and Answers about Sprains and Strains(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Sprains_Strains/default.asp
- Sprains and Strains(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/sprains-and-strains/DS00343/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Sprains and Strains: What's the Difference?(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00111
- Sprains, Strains, and Contusions(National Athletic Trainers' Association) - http://www.nata.org/consumer/sprainsandstrains.htm
- Casting Seems Best for Severe Ankle Sprains(02/13/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_80342.html
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MRI of the Musculoskeletal System(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=muscmr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=muscmr
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Ultrasound - Musculoskeletal(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=musculous
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=musculous
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Care of Casts and Splints(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00095
Also available in Spanish http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00496
- Sprain: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-sprain/FA00016/METHOD=print
- Stretching: Focus on Flexibility(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stretching/HQ01447/METHOD=print
- MedlinePlus: Mobility Aids - Canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mobilityaids.html
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Ankle Sprains: Healing and Preventing Injury(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/physical/injuries/010.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/physical/injuries/010.printerview.html
- Foot Sprain(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/25957.html
- Hamstring Muscle Strain(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00408
- Hip Strains(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00361
- Knee Ligament Injuries(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00349
- Leg Strain(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/31318.html
- Low Back Strain and Sprain(American Association of Neurological Surgeons) - http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/low_%20back_strain_sprain05.asp
- Muscle Strains in the Thigh(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00366
- Neck Sprain(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00410
- Sprained Ankle(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00150
- Thumb Sprains(American Society for Surgery of the Hand) - http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/ThumbSprains.aspx
- Whiplash(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/whiplash/whiplash.htm
- Wrist Sprains(American Society for Surgery of the Hand) - http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/WristSprains.aspx
- Ankle Sprains: How to Speed Your Recovery(American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine) - Links to PDF - http://www.sportsmed.org/secure/reveal/admin/uploads/documents/ST%20Ankle%20Sprains%2008.pdf
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Fractures and Sprains(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/fracturesandsprains/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/fracturesandsprainsspanish/htm/index.htm
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Muscles(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/muscles/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/musclesspanish/htm/index.htm
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Muscles(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/muscles/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/musclesspanish/htm/index.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Sprains and Strains(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Sprains+and+Strains%22
- Groin Injuries Averted by Preseason Injury Prevention Program(American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine) - http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/search/details.aspx?DID=417
- Article: Mechanical supports for acute, severe ankle sprain: a pragmatic, multicentre,... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19217992&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Immobilisation for acute severe ankle sprain. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19217974&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The Effectiveness of Mobile Discharge Instruction Videos (MDIVs) in communicating... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19204614&tool=MedlinePlus
- Sprains and Strains -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(sprains+and+strains[majr]+NOT+carpal+tunnel+syndrome[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/glossary.cfm
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
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Broken Bones, Sprains, and Strains(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/broken_bones.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/broken_bones_esp.html
- Strains and Sprains Are a Pain(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/strains_sprains.html
- Sports Injuries - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sportsinjuries.html
- Tendinitis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tendinitis.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
- Injuries and Wounds - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/injuriesandwounds.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Sprains and Strains is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Sprains and Strains - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/sprainsandstrains.html