sprain
Sign in to saveA sprain is a soft tissue injury of the ligaments within a joint, often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers made of collagen that connect two or more bones to form a joint and are important for joint stability and proprioception, which is the body's sense of limb position and movement. Sprains may be mild (first degree), moderate (second degree), or severe (third degree), with the latter two classes involving some degree of tearing of the ligament. Sprains can occur at any joint but most commonly
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Sprain
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Torn ligament, distortion
- Medical condition (new).caption
- A sprained ankle with bruising and swelling
- Medical condition (new).field
- Sports medicine, physical medicine & rehabilitation, orthopedics, family medicine, emergency medicine
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Pain, swelling, bruising, joint instability, limited range of motion of the injured joint
- Medical condition (new).duration
- Mild cases - few days to six weeks Severe cases - few weeks to months
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Trauma, sports injuries, overuse, environmental hazards
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Environmental factors, age, poor training or sports gear
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- Physical exam, joint x-ray
- Medical condition (new).differential
- Strain, fracture
- Medical condition (new).prevention
- Frequent stretching and conditioning, bracing at risk joints during exercise
- Medical condition (new).treatment
- Rest, ice, compression, elevation, NSAIDs
- Medical condition (new).medication
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Medical condition (new).prognosis
- Mild injuries resolve well on their own. Severe injuries likely require surgery and physical therapy.
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Causes
- Mechanism
- Risk factors
- Diagnosis
- Classification
- Joints involved
- Treatment
- Non-surgical
- Functional rehabilitation
- References
- External links
A sprain is a soft tissue injury of the ligaments within a joint, often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers made of collagen that connect two or more bones to form a joint and are important for joint stability and proprioception, which is the body's sense of limb position and movement. Sprains may be mild (first degree), moderate (second degree), or severe (third degree), with the latter two classes involving some degree of tearing of the ligament. Sprains can occur at any joint but most commonly occur in the ankle, knee, or wrist. An equivalent injury to a muscle or tendon is known as a strain.
The majority of sprains are mild, causing minor swelling and bruising that can be resolved with conservative treatment, typically summarized as RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation. However, severe sprains involve complete tears, ruptures, or avulsion fractures, often leading to joint instability, severe pain, and decreased functional ability. These sprains require surgical fixation, prolonged immobilization, and physical therapy.