Ouch! Identifying Common Sprains and Strains

When you're active, sometimes you might get hurt. Two common injuries are sprains and strains. They sound similar, but they affect different parts of your body!A Sprain is when you stretch or tear a ligament. Ligaments are tough bands that connect one bone to another bone at a joint. Think: Ankle sprain.A Strain is when you stretch or tear a muscle or a tendon. Tendons are cords that connect muscles to bones. Think: Pulled hamstring muscle.Knowing the difference helps you and the adults helping you give the right first aid, like the R.I.C.E. method.

The Situation: You're playing basketball and jump for a rebound. When you land, your foot comes down on another player's shoe, causing your ankle to roll outwards.What You Feel: You feel a sharp, immediate pain on the outside of your ankle. It quickly starts to swell up, and it hurts to put any weight on it.What Happened: The awkward landing stretched the ligaments in your ankle too far, causing a sprain. This is one of the most common injuries in sports!First Steps: Stop playing immediately. Tell your coach or a trusted adult. They will help you start the R.I.C.E. protocol to manage the pain and swelling.

The Situation: You're in a track relay and you explode out of the blocks to start your sprint. You didn't have much time to warm up before the race.What You Feel: Halfway down the track, you feel a sudden, intense pain in the back of your upper leg (your hamstring). You might even feel a 'pop' sensation.What Happened: The powerful, sudden movement without a proper warm-up caused the hamstring muscle to stretch beyond its limit and tear. This is a muscle strain.First Steps: Pull up and stop running immediately. Carefully make your way off the track and find your coach or a teacher. R.I.C.E. will be the first step in your recovery.