How would you differentiate a sprain from a strain?

• A. Sprain is injury to ligament; strain is injury to muscle-tendon unit
• B. Sprain is bone fracture; strain is cartilage injury
• C. Sprain refers to nerves; strain refers to bones
• D. Sprain and strain are the same

Answer: (C)

A sprain is an injury to ligaments, the bands that connect bones at a joint, while a strain is an injury to the muscle-tendon unit, the muscle and the tendon that attaches it to bone. This distinction matters because it points to what tissue is damaged and guides healing. Ligament injuries around a joint typically cause swelling, tenderness around the joint, and sometimes a sense of instability. Muscle-tendon injuries, on the other hand, present with pain during muscle contraction or stretching, and may involve weakness or cramping in the affected muscle. Injuries to nerves or bones follow different patterns—nerve injuries cause numbness or tingling, and bone injuries relate to fractures—so those are not the defining terms for sprains and strains. For example, an ankle sprain involves damaged ligaments, whereas a hamstring strain involves torn muscle fibers or their tendon. Initial care focuses on protection, ice, compression, elevation, and gradual rehabilitation tailored to the tissue involved.