Ligament Sprains
A sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments — the tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect two bones together in your joints. The most common location for a sprain is in your ankle.
The difference between a sprain and a strain is that a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together, while a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
Ligament Sprains Causes, Symptoms & Risk Factors
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include:
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Pain
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Swelling
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Bruising
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Limited ability to move the affected joint
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Hearing or feeling a "pop" in your joint at the time of injury
Causes
A sprain occurs when you overextend or tear a ligament while severely stressing a joint. Sprains often occur in the following circumstances:
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Ankle — Walking or exercising on an uneven surface, landing awkwardly from a jump
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Knee — Pivoting during an athletic activity
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Wrist — Landing on an outstretched hand during a fall
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Thumb — Skiing injury or overextension when playing racquet sports, such as tennis
Children have areas of softer tissue, called growth plates, near the ends of their bones. The ligaments around a joint are often stronger than these growth plates, so children are more likely to experience a fracture than a sprain.
Risk Factors
Factors contributing to sprains include:
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Environmental conditions. Slippery or uneven surfaces can make you more prone to injury.
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Fatigue. Tired muscles are less likely to provide good support for your joints. When you're tired, you're also more likely to succumb to forces that could stress a joint.
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Poor equipment. Ill-fitting or poorly maintained footwear or other sporting equipment can contribute to your risk of a sprain.