Sprains and strains

Sprains and strains form a collective term for muscle and ligament injuries without joint dislocation or bone fracture. A sprain is a joint injury in which some of the fibers of a supporting ligament are ruptured but the continuity of the ligament remains intact. A strain is an overstretching or overexertion of some part of the musculature.

While they are extremely common, they can cause severe limitations to activities of daily living. A serious ankle sprain can take longer to heal than a fracture of an ankle bone.