Sprains, strains, and dislocations
Sprains
A stretching or tearing of a ligament. It can occur in any joint but is most common in the ankle.
Strains
A stretching or tearing of a muscle. Strained calves and thigh muscles are common in sports like football and running.
dislocations
A condition that occurs when the bones of a joint are knocked out of place.
Symptoms
Sprain
Pain
Swelling
Bruising
Limited ability to move the affected joint
Hearing or feeling a "pop" in your joint at the time of injury
Strain
Pain or tenderness
Redness or bruising
Limited motion
Muscle spasms
Swelling
Muscle weakness
Dislocation
Pain, swelling and bruising
Instability of the joint
Loss of ability to move the joint
Hearing or feeling a "pop" in your joint at the time of injury
Visibly deformed joint (bone looks out of place)
Treatments
Treatments for sprains or strains are ice, compression, rest, and elevation, and if it’s very serious, surgery.
Most dislocations are easily fixed in an ER room, where a doctor or nurse will be able to move the bone back into place. After that, rest is important.
Potential Lasting Effects
The only lasting effect for a sprain is if it’s not fully rehealed, and it is that the area that was sprained is a little weaker and more likely to get injured again.
The lasting effects of a strain are that the muscle suffers pain and weakness.
Dislocations don’t result in permanent damage.
Frequency
It is essentially impossible to know how many strains and sprains occur each year, as most of them go unreported and are treated at home. They are extremely common! Dislocations are also really common because they can occur to any joint in the body.
Prevention
The best way to prevent a sprain or strain is to stretch a lot, both before and after exercise, and to strengthen the muscles around your ligaments. The best way to prevent a dislocation is to be cautious with how you move, and wear the right gear while playing sports.