What You Need to Know About Sprains and Strains - in 2 mins!

Summary

In this video, Dr. Matt compares ligament sprains and muscle strains, covering key aspects such as definitions, common injury locations, mechanisms of injury, and grading. A sprain refers to ligament damage, most commonly in the ankle, wrist, or knee, while a strain involves injury to muscles or the muscle-tendon junction, often affecting superficial muscle groups like the hamstrings and calf. Both injuries are caused by excessive tensile forces, leading to various degrees of damage. Dr. Matt explains the grading system for both sprains and strains, ranging from mild overstretching to complete tears, with corresponding pain, swelling, and functional limitations.

Takeaways

• 😀 A sprain is an injury to a ligament, whereas a strain refers to an injury to a muscle or muscle-tendon junction.
• 😀 Common locations for sprains include the ankle, wrist, and knee, with the anterior talofibular ligament and ACL being commonly affected.
• 😀 Muscle strains most often occur in superficial muscle groups like the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles.
• 😀 The mechanism of both sprains and strains involves excessive tensile forces that damage ligaments or muscles.
• 😀 Sprains can be graded into three categories: Grade 1 (mild overstretching), Grade 2 (partial tear), and Grade 3 (complete tear).
• 😀 Grade 1 sprains typically result in mild pain and swelling, with individuals still able to bear weight.
• 😀 Grade 2 sprains cause moderate pain, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight.
• 😀 Grade 3 sprains lead to severe pain, swelling, instability, and bruising, often making it impossible to bear weight.
• 😀 Strains are graded similarly: Grade 1 (mild strain), Grade 2 (partial disruption), and Grade 3 (complete disruption of the muscle).
• 😀 A Grade 1 strain causes mild pain only when the muscle is stretched, while Grade 2 and Grade 3 strains result in more significant pain, swelling, and loss of function.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a ligament sprain and a muscle strain?

A ligament sprain refers to an injury to a ligament, while a muscle strain refers to an injury to a muscle or the muscular tendinous junction.

Where are the most common locations for ligament sprains?

The most common locations for ligament sprains are the ankle (especially the anterior talofibular ligament), wrist (radial or ulnar wrist), and knee (anterior cruciate ligament).

Which muscles are most commonly affected by muscle strains?

The most commonly affected muscles in strains are superficial muscle groups crossing joints, such as the rectus femoris (quadriceps), semitendinosus (hamstrings), and gastrocnemius (calf).

What is the common mechanism of injury for both ligament sprains and muscle strains?

Both injuries are typically caused by excessive tensile forces. In the case of sprains, it leads to ligament damage, while in strains, it causes disruption to the muscle fibers or a complete rupture at the muscle-tendon unit.

How are ligament sprains graded?

Ligament sprains are graded into three categories: Grade 1 is a mild overstretch with minor tears, Grade 2 is a partial tear with moderate pain and swelling, and Grade 3 is a complete tear, leading to severe pain, swelling, and joint instability.

What are the grading criteria for muscle strains?

Muscle strains are also graded into three categories: Grade 1 involves mild interstitial strain with pain only when the muscle is stretched, Grade 2 has partial muscle disruption with pain and swelling, and Grade 3 is a complete muscle disruption causing pain, swelling, and loss of function.

What are the typical symptoms of a Grade 1 ligament sprain?

A Grade 1 ligament sprain involves mild pain and swelling with the individual able to bear weight on the joint.

What is the usual recovery expectation for a Grade 2 ligament sprain?

A Grade 2 ligament sprain involves moderate pain and swelling, and the individual will have difficulty bearing weight on the affected joint. Recovery can take several weeks depending on the severity of the tear.

How does a Grade 3 muscle strain differ from a Grade 1 muscle strain?

A Grade 3 muscle strain is a complete rupture of the muscle, leading to severe pain, swelling, and loss of function. In contrast, a Grade 1 strain involves mild muscle damage with pain only during stretching.

What is a common treatment approach for severe ligament sprains and muscle strains?

Severe sprains and strains (Grade 2 or 3) typically require medical intervention, including rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E.), along with possible physical therapy and, in some cases, surgery to repair the damage.