Sports & Fitness

Sprains and strains are common injuries that can happen due to excessive force on the muscles or ligaments, or from overuse of the said areas. These can happen in sport, at work or even during daily activities. They are sometimes used interchangeably to describe an injury. This should not be the case however, as both of them are different from each other.

A strain is a milder form of injury that is caused by pushing or stretching a muscle or tendon too far, such as when moving a heavy object. It can also be caused by bad habits (such as bad posture) that can lead to overuse of the affected muscle. These can cause a tear on a muscle that can lead to pain, muscle weakness, inflammation, and limited motion of the affected area.

A sprain, on the other hand, is generally a more serious injury characterised by an overstretched or torn ligament. Ligaments are connective tissues that connect bones together in a joint. When a ligament is torn, it affects that joint’s function and is often associated with severe pain, swelling, instability and could also lead to a loss of the joint’s function. Sprains usually occur when an excessive force applied to a joint or limb, such as an ankle or wrist.t doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s more important to eat healthy most of the time and to keep it that way.