Joint and ligament sprains

Ligaments are a bone to bone connection made up of bands of collagen tissue. You have nearly 1000 ligaments in your body, and their main job is to stabilize a joint and provide sensory information to the brain that is important for mobility.

WHAT IS A LIGAMENT SPRAIN?

A ligament sprain is usually caused when a joint is suddenly forced beyond its usual range of movement and the ligament fibers are stretched too far. In some cases, the ligament can be ruptured. This might be the result of falling, twisting, or sustaining a blow to the area. Ankle sprains are the most commonly injured ligament, but they can occur anywhere. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SPRAIN AND A STRAIN?

You might hear these terms used interchangeably by amateur diagnosticians, but sprains affect the ligaments while strains affect muscles and tendons. They both cause pain, though, so it can be difficult to tell the difference when all you know is that it really hurts!

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I’VE SPRAINED A LIGAMENT?

Sprains can sometimes feel and look like a fracture, particularly if they are severe, so it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. 

You will likely experience:

• Pain

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Limited and/or excessive movement of a joint

Some patients report feeling or hearing a pop at the time of the injury.

A physiotherapist will be able to help you diagnose your injury, as well as start you your rehabilitation. Treatment may consist of hands on treatment, exercises, and equipment to relieve pain, restore movement and prevent future injuries. So, your first port of call should be to book an appointment to get diagnosed early and start the recovery process.