Understanding Sprains and Strains
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Dr. Lamont Tyler has been a family medicine and urgent care physician in Bloomington, Illinois since 2004, where he currently serves as medical director. He treats various minor injuries such as sprains and strains. A sprain is a torn or stretched ligament connecting bones, while a strain is a torn muscle or tendon. Both cause pain, swelling, and immobility in the affected area. Sprains often involve twisting of the ankle or wrist, and strains can occur suddenly in the back or hamstrings from overexertion or develop over time from repetitive motion. Mild cases are usually treated with rest, ice, and immobilization, while more severe injuries may require physical therapy or surgery.
Understanding Sprains and Strains
- 2. Board-certified in family medicine and urgent care medicine. Dr. Lamont Tyler has treated patients at OSF SJMC PromptCare in Bloomington, Illinois since 2004. Dr. Lamont Tyler presently serves as the practice's medical director and treats an array of injuries, including minor sprains and strains. A sprain occurs when a ligament, which is the fibrous tissue connecting bones to one another, is torn or stretched. A strain, on the other hand, occurs when a patient tears a muscle or tendon, which is the connecting tissue between muscles and bones.
- 3. The symptoms of each type of injury often overlap, as both can cause pain, swelling, and immobility of the affected area. Sprains typically occur in the ankle when a person walks on an uneven surface and twists the joint. They also often affect the wrist when a person uses an outstretched hand to break a fall. Many patients report hearing a pop or tear when spraining the ligament.
- 4. Like sprains, strains can happen suddenly in the back or hamstrings, often as a result from overstressing the muscles when a person plays sports or lifts heavy objects. Strains can also develop over time when a muscle is used repetitively on the job or during a sport such as golf. When these injuries are mild, they usually respond to rest and ice as well as immobilization of the area with a splint or brace. More severe injuries may require physical therapy or even surgery.