Sprains and strains are some of the most common athletic injuries that occur. I have seen these many times and they even occur in non-athletes.
Sprain or strain, even though there is a subtle difference in the spelling, these two injuries are completely different.
What is the difference?
The difference in sprains vs strains is where they occur in the body, meaning which tissues they affect.
Sprains involve a ligament, which is soft tissue that connects a bone to another bone. Ligaments are usually smaller but take longer to heal!
Strains have to do with the muscle or tendon of that muscle. A tendon is the soft tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. Tendons and muscles are larger and heal faster.
Why does one heal faster than the other?
Sprains and strains heal at different times, making one last longer than the other.
A muscle has a good blood supply which will allow for a faster healing time. Ligaments on the other hand have less blood supply and therefor take longer. If you have ever had an ankle sprain, you know that they can take months to be completely healed.
There you have it, better blood supply, faster healing time!
Grades:
Where it also gets a little confusing is the grading system for the sprains/strains because they are pretty much the same.
Grade 1: a stretching of the fibers of the ligament or muscle/tendon.
Grade 2: more severe pulling which might have a few fibers of the ligament or muscle/tendon being torn
Grade 3: a complete rupture of the ligament or muscle/tendon.
Examples
The most common sprain I see in practice in Ankle sprains. This is also usually the outside or lateral side of ankle. I also commonly see a wrist sprain in athletes as well as the thumb. Check out my post here on ankle exercises.
The most common muscle strain I see in practice is in the quadriceps and hamstrings.
Sprains and strains have similarities and differences, but all can be rehabbed by a Physical Therapist. If you have one find a PT in your area.