Topic of Interest
sPrain vs sTrain
By: Dr. Mel Eggebrecht, DPT, CWT, CSST
sPorT plus physical therapy, LLC
Is it a sprain or is it a strain? A sprain is an injury to the ligaments or other tissue around a joint. A strain is an injury caused by overuse or overstretching of a muscle.
Both injuries cause pain and swelling. Whether it is a sprain or a strain the basic treatment principles are the same: RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation to treat the acute pain or injury. Begin the RICE process immediately following injury.
- R. Rest. Injured muscle, ligament, or tendon tissue needs time to rest to heal. Resting an injury can include limiting use of the joint for 24 to 48 hours, or the use of slings, splints, crutches, or taping.
- I. Ice. Cold will reduce pain and swelling and promote healing. Heat feels nice, but it does more harm than good if it is applied too soon (less than 72 hours) after an injury. Apply ice or cold packs immediately, at least 3x/day for the first 72 hours, 10-15 minutes once an hour as needed.
- C. Compression. Wrap the injured area with an elastic (Ace) bandage or compression sleeve to immobilize and compress the area. Careful not to wrap too tightly. With or without a wrap, the joint needs total rest for 1-2 days.
- E. Elevation. Elevate the injured area while you apply ice and anytime you are sitting or lying down. True elevation means keeping the injury at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling.
If symptoms do not improve after 48 hours of home treatment you should call your physician.
It may not always be possible to prevent accidents that cause sprains or strains. Whether it’s a ‘P’ (sprain) or a ‘T’ (strain), PT (physical therapy) can help. A physical therapist with orthopedic training can: identify specific tissue problems, provide other therapies such as modalities (ultrasound, electrical stimulation), and develop a customized exercise program for your recovery.
For questions or concerns related to this article, please call Dr. Mel Eggebrecht, DPT at sPorT plus physical therapy, LLC (715)339-6140.