Strains & Sprains

Symptoms of a Sprain or Strain

What is the difference between a strain and a sprain? If you sprain your body, that means you have injured a ligament. When a sprain happens, this means that one or more of the ligaments in your body are torn or stretched. Ligaments are the tough fibrous tissue that holds together your bones. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon in your body, rather than to a ligament.

The symptoms of a sprain include pain in the affected area, swelling, bruising, and difficulty in using the affected joint. Symptoms of a strain include pain, muscle spasms, swelling, cramping, and trouble moving the affected area.