Difference Between Sprains, Strains & Fractures

Sprains, Strains & Fractures:  Almost all of us had that awful tumble that led to a painful ankle injury. We shake it off, ignore it and move on only to find swelling staring at us with a pain soaring up. Not all ankle injuries are the same, it can be a strain, sprain or even a fracture. Because the symptoms of all the three different types of injuries overlap with each other, patients are not accurately aware of the type of injury which may lead to delay in consulting an orthopaedic specialist.

So today with inputs from orthopaedic specialist in Mumbai Dr Chirag Patel, we help you understand the difference between each of these Sprains, Strains & Fractures injuries, read on:

Strains:

Our muscles not only help our body move but also dictate the strength of the movement. The force generated by the muscles is transmitted to the bones; the tendons are the connective tissues that enable this transfer of force.

Tendons are thick fibrous bands that connect the muscles to the bones to enable movement and transfer of force. A strain happens when these tendons or muscles are twisted, pulled or stretched beyond their normal limit. This strain can be chronic due to overuse or it can be acute due to traumatic injury. Either way, the symptoms of strain are pain, swelling, cramping, decreased mobility and range of motion.

The treatment for the strain can be, RICE (Rest, Ice Compression Elevation), medication, and physical therapy and can be even surgery in severe cases, according to the best arthroscopic surgeon in Mumbai, Dr Chirag Patel.

Sprains:

While tendons connect muscles with bones, ligaments are another type of fibrous band that connects the bones. A sprain happens when these ligaments are torn or stretched beyond their normal limit. A sprain can happen anywhere but as the number of bones in the legs is more, the probability of sprain to the legs, especially to the ankles is very high.

A mild sprain stretches the ligament but the joint remains stable. A moderate sprain can result in a partially torn ligament and destabilize joints. A severe sprain can result in a complete tear of ligaments and will need surgery. Irrespective of the severe pain, decrease range of motion, swelling are common symptoms of a sprain.

Fracture:

Unlike strains and sprains where the support structures like tendons and ligaments are injured, fracture happens when the bone itself is broken or cracked. Naturally, it is accompanied by immediate and extreme pain, swelling, bruising and inability to move. Not all the symptoms of fractures are extreme.

Few of the fractures can be mild and moderate and can their severity can only determine by an orthopaedic surgeon after performing multiple imaging studies. Whether it is a sprain, strain or fracture, pain can be severe depending upon the injury and this often happens in sports.

Sometimes the pain can be so severe that the patient finds it difficult to know if it is a broken bone or sprain. In such cases, patients are advised to consult an orthopaedic specialist as soon as possible for prompt treatment. If you are in Mumbai ad are looking for a consultation, then Dr Chirag Patel is the leading orthopaedic surgeon in Mumbai and the best sports injury doctor in Mumbai who can help you in this regard.