What Is the Difference Between a Sprain and a Strain

When it comes to soft tissue injuries, the two most commonly invoked are sprains and strains. However, the vast majority of people are not informed about the difference between these two similar injuries.

• A sprain injures your ligaments, the bands of tissue that connect one bone to another. Sprains occur when you overextend or tear a ligament while severely stressing a joint.
• A strain, or pulled muscle, involves an injury to a muscle or tendon (the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone).

How Can I Tell If It’s a Sprain or Strain?

While both can cause swelling and pain, each has its own symptoms. Both sprains and strains often exhibit limited mobility in the affected joint, as well as muscle weakness, tenderness, and swelling.

In addition, hearing or feeling a “pop” in your joint at the time of injury indicates a sprain.

These similarities make them hard to distinguish. One major difference is that sprains often involve bruising, while strains can lead to muscle spasms.

Is a Sprain Worse Than a Strain?

Both can be equally bad, and both affect connective tissue, so it depends on the severity of the particular injury. Of the two, strains generally have the faster recovery time since tendons heal faster than ligaments.

Can Graston Be Applied for Ankle Sprains?

The Graston Technique® is a procedure for treating soft tissue injuries, injuries that affect the fascia, adhesions, knots, muscle spasms, and anything that causes a restricted range of motion that prevents you from doing what you love. It involves the use of a surgical stainless steel instrument with rounded edges (it’s not sharp), allowing the clinician to identify problem areas and provide precision treatment to deep tissue.

When treating ankle sprains, the Graston Technique® is effective in helping to reduce swelling as well as in the later stages of the healing process, it assists in the breakdown of adhesions and dysfunctional scar tissue that occurs as a result of the initial injury.

Can Graston Help with Muscle Strains?

When treating muscle strains or tissue tightness, the Graston Technique® can promote faster rehabilitation and facilitate a return to normal function. The technique can help support your recovery process, allowing it to stay smooth and relatively brief.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Is the Expert in Soft Tissue Injuries

At East Bay Chiropractic Wellness, we’ve been at the cutting edge of chiropractic care since the mid-1980s, and have been certified to practice the Graston Technique® for decades. With almost four decades of experience, you know you’ll be in good hands. Our expert team understands that each case is unique and develops individualized treatment plans for each patient. Contact us at East Bay Chiropractic today. You deserve a life free from pain!