Condition
Muscle strains and sprains: causes and treatment
A clinically reviewed guide to strains and sprains — the difference, and how they recover.
Quick answer
A strain affects a muscle or tendon, while a sprain affects a ligament. Both are common soft-tissue injuries that usually recover with early gentle movement, exercise and a graded return to activity.
Key facts
- A strain = muscle/tendon; a sprain = ligament.
- Early gentle movement usually beats prolonged rest.
- Most recover well with a graded return to activity.
What is the difference between a strain and a sprain?
A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, while a sprain is an injury to a ligament — both are soft-tissue injuries.
Strains often happen when a muscle is overstretched or overloaded; sprains happen when a joint is forced beyond its normal range, stretching or tearing a ligament.
What are the symptoms?
Both typically cause pain, swelling, bruising and reduced movement, ranging from mild to severe.
- Pain, often immediate with acute injuries
- Swelling and sometimes bruising
- Reduced movement or strength
- A feeling of weakness in the injured area
How are strains and sprains treated?
Most strains and sprains are treated with early protected movement, progressive exercise, and a graded return to activity.
Gentle early movement, once serious injury is excluded, generally supports recovery better than prolonged rest. Rehabilitation restores strength and reduces recurrence.
At Postura Wellness, care for strains and sprains is built around OrthoRestore™ — our signature method that combines chiropractic and physiotherapy into one coordinated plan. Depending on your assessment, it can bring together chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, muscle manipulation, Active Release Technique, and targeted exercises, supported where helpful by technology such as shockwave therapy and bioelectric therapy. The aim is to relieve symptoms while addressing the underlying causes, with a plan tailored to you.
Inability to use or bear weight on the injured part, obvious deformity, severe swelling, or a popping sensation at the time of injury should be assessed.
Get a clear plan for your strain or sprain
Book an assessment at either branch and get a tailored plan.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified clinician about your individual condition.
Sources
- Bones, Joints and Muscles — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Muscle and Bone Diseases — NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Joint Disorders — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Orthopedic services — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- Aging changes in the bones, muscles and joints — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia