Strain or Sprain

Let's face it, injuries happen at the hill. Your body gets fatigued and some times dosnt respond as quick as it needs to. You push yourself harder or you finally get a chance to try that trick you have been waiting all summer to do. You trip and fall, catch an edge or slid on a patch of ice. Pain shoots up you leg. You know somethings wrong as you hobble to the lodge. Ski patrol says you sprained your ankle or the EMS on site tells you you have a strain in your right legs. 

So what's the difference?

A sprain is an injury to the ligament that connects bone to bone. It helps provide stability to your joints keeping them intact and moving correctly. When you sprain your ankle for example you tear the ligament causing the joint to move beyond it's normal range of motion. This cause pain, instability and if sever enough the inability to move the limb at all. 

So what's a strain?

A strain is the stretching or tearing of a tendon that connects muscle to bone. This happens when the muscle is stretched then contracted quickly beyond it's capability. 

In an acute strain you often feel pain, have muscle spasms, limited range of motion, and lose strength in that muscle. 

A chronic strain happen over time. They build up from constant over use and repetitive stress. When this happens the tendon gets inflamed and can cause tendinitis, an injury that is painful and not easily treated. 

So if you fall and feel something not quite right get it checked by a local physician right away. Leaving a strain or sprain untreated can cause further injuries with long term effects. If treated right away most strains and sprains will heal without much complications and have you back on the hill before you know it.

Nathaniel Porter-Gowan, RMT