What Is a Sprain? What Is a Strain?

Soft tissue injuries are an everyday occurrence during sporting activities. Within these, sprains are limited to ligament injuries. This happens due to sudden impact, twisted ankle, or torn ligament. Joint instability and intense pain are the symptoms of a sprain.  

On the other hand, strains are concentrated on the tendons and muscles. The back, legs, and shoulders are the common places where a strain occurs. These happen during a time of stressful physical activity or sport. Stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon can lead to a strain.  

How Do I Distinguish if I have a Sprain or a Strain? 

Due to having similar symptoms, it is difficult to determine If there is a strain or a sprain in a certain area. A proper medical diagnosis from a sports injury specialist is required to understand the extremity of the condition.  

What Is a Bone Fracture?

A bone fracture is a break in your bone that comes from a one-time injury or repeated stress to a particular area. Bone fractures are broken down into three categories: acute, stress, and growth plate.

• Acute bone fracture: An acute fracture happens during a fall, accident, or direct blow. These types of fractures are typically emergencies.
• Stress bone fracture: A stress fracture happens to your low body. These are common for athletes in sports that require jumping. This repetitive impact can create stress on your weight-bearing bones and cause a stress fracture.
• Growth plate fractures: For children and teens, a growth plate fracture may occur when their bones are still lengthening as they reach full height. This can be the result of an accident or chronic stress.

Bone Fractures vs Broken Bone

In terms of medical conditions, no visible difference is seen between these two. You might see many individuals getting confused between the terms bone fracture and broken bone. But we want to elaborate that these are the same thing. There is only a difference in these concerning medical terminologies. Bone fracture is generally a more formal term for a broken bone. It is often employed by medical practitioners.  

Bone Dislocation

At any place in your body where two bones come together, there is a possibility of that joint becoming separated. This separation is called bone dislocation. This is common at your shoulders, elbows, knees, and fingers and must be looked at urgently by a professional. Bone dislocation is any sport with body-to-body contact and potential falls.

Tendinitis

The flexible band of tissue that connects your muscles to your bones is called a tendon. Occurred through repetitive twisting movements on a particular body part, this injury can happen with stress. Golf and tennis are examples of sports in which tendinitis is commonly observed. Inflammation is a big giveaway of this injury.  

Bursitis

There is cushioning between bones and muscles within the body. This cushioning effect is created by small sacs. Bursitis is a condition where these sacs become inflamed due to a sudden injury or repeated movement, common for foot injuries among athletes. 

Proper preparation, self-care, and awareness of sports injury management contribute to preventive measures to avoid any sports injuries in the future. If you have been suffering from one or multiple sports injuries, here are the things you need to start focusing on, to avoid further damage.  

Maintain Proper Warm-Up Routine 

Strain and injuries that are mild are usually caused by the body not being prepared to endure the physical stress. Create a warm-up routine before stepping into the sport again. This ensures that your body has transitioned to an active state for running and other tasks.  

Seek Professional Guidance  

A sports injury doctor should be consulted, as they are trained in the unique medical records of athletes and sports enthusiasts. If you have incurred an injury or sprain in the past, attend the prescribed sports injury physiotherapy sessions required before getting back in the game. Our sports injury singapore specialists cater to injury prevention education along with suggesting the optimum medication to regain your full strength.  

Incorporate Body Strengthening Exercises 

By booking an appointment with us, our doctors encourage gradual progression in the game by referring to strength training. They emphasize reducing muscle tension and regular stretching to strengthen the area around the injury.  

Consider Using Protective Gear 

Braces and specialized equipment are designed to provide additional stability and protect the area from re-injury. Invest in high-quality protective gear to reduce the risk of damaging that area again. Sports injury insurance is also a great consideration to gain a complete advantage that covers any further injuries with full medical assistance.  

Traditional Western medicinal treatments are usually the mainstream approach to treat sports injuries. However, alternative therapies are also available. It all depends on your preference, as these therapies also have some effective results. Let’s find out more about them.  

Acupuncture  

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) technique is carried out with the help of needles inserted into particular body areas. For inflammation, and pain and supporting the healing process, acupuncture is utilized. For the best tcm for sports injury singapore our doctors can give you the most beneficial consultation and counseling. Sports injury tcm aids the body’s natural healing system by correcting imbalances and reducing the risk of re-injury significantly.  

Chiropractic Care 

The musculoskeletal system problems are the ones that are the focus of a chiropractor. From diagnosis to treatment this alternative source of medicine is widely accepted in the world. A sports injury chiropractor can focus on your signs of injury and work on the misalignment that might be causing pain. Back, neck, shoulder, and hip pain are the target zones in this form of treatment.  

It is always a good idea to see a doctor when you’re in pain and suspect that you might have even a minor sports injury. Symptoms of sports injury are not limited to sudden injury or a nagging pain that has gotten worse with time. Injuries will only get better with proper treatment.