So what is a sprain or strain?

Sprain

• Stretch or tear of your ligament, which attaches bone to bone.
• Mild to moderate sprain can involve localised pain, swelling and bruising.
• Complete tear can mean loss of function of the joint. 

Strain

• Stretch or tear of your tendon, which attaches muscle to bone.
• Mild to moderate strain can involve localised pain, swelling, muscle spasm and weakness.
• Complete tear can mean loss of function of the muscle.

​Causes
Aside from the obvious causes like a hard tackle at rugby or catching the edge of the pathway (we’ve all done it), if you are having recurrent sprain/strains it could be a sign of something not working right up or down the chain.  For example, it is not unusual to see people with recurrent ankle sprains to have a twist in their pelvis which is having an effect on how they walk.  Don’t just assume it’s a dodgy ankle…it could be your hip or knee that’s the problem, so it’s well worth getting it checked out.
 
Treatment
Unfortunately tendons and ligaments have poor blood supply, meaning recovery takes longer than it would if you had just broken a bone.  Hard to believe huh!  The risk of reinjuring the site is high within the first 12 months, so it is important to seek a good treatment plan to appropriately manage your recovery.  Treatments typically involve lymphatic drainage to remove excess swelling, exercises to build up strength and stability, and musculoskeletal work to remove compensatory patterns.  If you have had a complete tear you will know about it and will most likely seek medical intervention which may require surgery.  You will still require on-going support post-surgery to ensure full recovery.