acute

Sprains and strains

A sprain is a soft injury of the ligaments within a joint, often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers made of collagen that connect two or more bones to form a joint and are important for joint stability and proprioception, which is the body's sense of limb position and movement. Sprains may be mild, moderate, or severe, with the latter two classes involving some degree of tearing of the ligament. Sprains can occur at any joint but most commonly occur in the ankle, knee, or wrist. An equivalent injury to a muscle or is known as a strain.

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Symptoms — what it feels like

·Pain, swelling, bruising, joint instability, limited range of motion of the injured joint

Causes — why it happens

·, sports injuries, overuse, environmental hazards

How it's found

·Physical exam, joint x-ray

Prevention

·Frequent stretching and conditioning, bracing at risk joints during exercise

Treatment

·Rest, ice, compression, elevation,

Outlook

·Mild injuries resolve well on their own.
·Severe injuries likely require and physical therapy.

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Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.