Sprain

A sprain is a type of injury in which a person hurts the part really bad, but it is not broken. It has common side effects of a broken bone, but it is less serious.

Degrees

The first degree is only a minor tear or stretch of a ligament.

The second degree is a tear of a ligament, which is usually followed by pain or swelling.

The third degree is a complete rupture.

Signs and symptoms

The typical signs and symptoms associated with a sprain are the main signs of inflammation:

• localized pain
• swelling
• loss of function

Joints involved

Although any joint can experience a sprain, some of the more common include:

• the ankle. It is the most common.
• the knee. Perhaps one of the more talked about sprains is that to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee. This is a disabling sprain common to athletes, especially basketball, soccer, and judo players.
• the fingers.
• the wrist. The wrist is also a popular sprain area.

Prevention

Sprains can best be prevented by proper use of safety equipment (wrist, ankle guards), warm-ups and cool-downs (including stretching), being aware of your surroundings and maintaining strength and flexibility. Physical conditioning is the best way to avoid or lessen the degree of sprains.

Other websites

• More information and treatment at nhsdirect.nhs.uk Archived 2008-12-07 at the Wayback Machine