Definition
A sprain is an injury that damages a ligament. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones to each other.
Causes
A sprain is when a force pushes the bones of a joint apart. If the force is strong enough, the ligament comes apart.
Risk Factors
Sprains can happen with everyday activities, but they are more common during sports. Sports with high speeds and risk of impact have a greater risk of sprains. These sports are:
- Basketball
- Football
- Skiing
- Gymnastics
Here are some factors that may raise your risk:
- Muscle weakness
- Lack of flexibility
- Coordination and balance problems
- Sudden change in direction
- Impact with object or other person
- Misstep that causes a sudden strain at a joint
Symptoms
Having a sprain may cause:
- Pain right away after the sprain—without care, the pain becomes worse over the next 24 hours
- A popping sound
- Local swelling, often within minutes
- Bruising
- Trouble moving the joint
- Increased pain when putting pressure on the problem area
The most common joints that get sprained are:
- Ankle
- Knee
- Thumb or finger joints
- Shoulder
Diagnosis
You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
Pictures may be needed. This will help check for damage to bones or other structures. This may be done with:
Sprains are graded from 1 to 3:
- Grade 1—Some stretching with micro-tearing of ligaments
- Grade 2—Partial tearing of ligaments
- Grade 3—Complete tearing of ligaments
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the joint involved and how much it is injured. Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. It may mean:
Rest
Treatment will depend on the joint involved and how much it is injured. Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. It may mean:
Decrease Swelling
Elevation will help reduce swelling. Compression with an elastic bandage also helps control it.
Ice and Heat
Ice may help reduce swelling and pain in the first few days after you are hurt.
After a couple of days, heat may help loosen tight or injured muscles. Wait for swelling to go away before using heat.
Medications
Medicine can help to reduce pain and swelling. Medicine may include:
- Over-the-counter pain medicine, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen
- Topical pain medicine—creams or patches that are put on the skin
- Prescription pain medicine
Note: Aspirin is not advised for children with a current or recent viral infection. Check with your doctor before giving your child aspirin.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation exercises may be helpful after the sprain heals. Exercises can help make muscles stronger and increase range of motion. Medical help is often needed at this stage. It is important to strengthen the muscles where the ligament is. Those muscles need to be protected against further injury.
Prevention
It may be hard to avoid sprains. Joints are at risk during sports. To lower your chance of getting a sprain:
- Use proper techniques to help avoid awkward motions and missteps.
- Do flexibility, strength, and fitness training.
RESOURCES:
American College of Sports Medicine
http://acsm.org
Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org
REFERENCES:
Ankle sprain. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113633/Ankle-sprain. Updated April 30, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2018.
Derry S, Moore RA, Gaskell H, McIntyre M, Wiffen PJ. Topical NSAIDs for acute musculoskeletal pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2015;(6):CD007402.
Sprained ankle. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00150. Updated February 2016. Accessed June 11, 2018.
Last reviewed May 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Laura Lei-Rivera, PT, DPT, GCS Last Updated: 9/30/2013