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Caring for Sprains, Strains, and Contusions What is a Sprain? What is a Strain? What is a Contusion? A sprain is an overstretching or tearing of ligaments, which are softtissues that connect bone to bone. Sprains are a result of trauma such as falling or twisting and are commonly seen in knees, ankles, wrists, and fingers. Strains, also referred to as “pulls”, result from overstretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissues that attach muscle to bone. Strains are a result of excessive muscle contraction or from overuse type repetitive movements. Strains are often seen in the hamstrings, quadriceps, and muscles of the back. Contusions or bruises are an injury to tissue or bone resulting from fall or a blow to the area. These forces usually cause blood vessels to rupture resulting in discoloration beneath the skin. Signs and Symptoms Sprains and strains have similar signs and symptoms; the difference is in their location. Sprains occur within a joint space while strains occur within a muscle or along a tendon. Symptoms include: pain, spasm, swelling, discoloration and muscle weakness. Contusions are usually blue or purple at first and can be quite painful. Throughout the healing process, skin color often changes to shades of yellow and green. Treatment and return-to-activity Treatment of for these injuries will depend on the extent of the damage done to the area. In most cases, the R.I.C.E. principle will aid in pain and swelling reduction: Rest: rest the injured area from painful activity. Ice: apply cold to the area 20 minutes every hour. Compression: Wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage starting at the point furthest from the heart. Elevation: Keep the injured body part elevated above the heart as much as possible. Activity modifications should be made during the healing process. Healing can be improved with rehabilitation exercises that restore range-of-motion, strength, and normal function. Return-to-activity should be gradual with the aid of protective bracing or strapping. The information in this document is from the National Athletic Trainer’s Association’s Activity Health Tips: http://www.nata.org/consumer/sprainsandstrains.htm. This information is not intended to be, and should not be used as, a substitute for appropriate medical care. For more information on the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey, or how a certified athletic trainer can serve your healthcare needs, please visit us on the web at: www.atsnj.org