Sprain or rupture of ligaments: what is the difference

How do you know if a ligament is torn or sprained?

Ligament injuries are one of the most common reasons for limiting a person’s physical activity and ability to move freely, which significantly reduces the patient’s quality of life.
Such disorders occur mainly as a result of injury or while playing sports. Most often in a doctor's practice, ruptures and sprains of the ligaments of the ankle, shoulder, knee and phalanges occur. Its treatment largely depends on the type of injury, so it is important to be able to distinguish between types of ligament damage in order to understand all their features and possible consequences.

Sprained knee ligaments - treatment

If during diagnostic procedures a sprain of the ligaments of the knee joint was determined, the symptoms and treatment are determined only by a traumatologist. Based on the data obtained during an objective diagnosis of such a condition as a knee injury, treatment includes the following:

drug therapy;
non-pharmacological therapeutic measures;
surgery.

The main directions of treatment for the pathological process are determined by the doctor, based on the specific clinical situation.

Sprain or rupture of ligaments: how to determine?

Joint ligaments are a kind of association of individual connective tissue fibers. They are designed to connect the bone elements of a particular joint, strengthen it and restrain the range of motion in the joint.

Among ligament injuries, the most common are their rupture and sprain. How does a ligament tear or sprain manifest? How can you tell if a ligament rupture or sprain occurs after a joint injury?

Ligament sprain is a pathological condition that is characterized by tearing of its individual fibers, but while maintaining the continuity of the organ in anatomical terms. The reasons for this condition may be different. It occurs with sudden and strong movements that are not characteristic of a particular joint.

Ligament rupture is a traumatic condition that occurs as a result of a complete violation of its integrity due to transverse separation of connective tissue fibers. The causes of ligament rupture are the same as for sprains, but the force that acts on the joint is much greater.

At first glance, it is impossible to understand the difference between a ligament rupture and a sprain. There is no clear difference between these pathological conditions. In both cases, the integrity of the fibers is damaged. There is one exception: in case of stretching it is partial, and in case of rupture it is complete.

Degrees of stretch

Before moving forward with therapy, it is important to know the several degrees of muscle fiber damage.

The first degree is considered the easiest; in most cases it goes away on its own if the muscles are provided with proper rest.
The second degree is characterized by fairly strong painful sensations, which are accompanied by tissue swelling and minor bruising. When the muscle contracts, the pain intensifies.
In the third degree, muscle ruptures occur, which are accompanied by very severe pain and hematomas, while the torn muscle tissue can no longer contract.

Below are the basic principles of treating muscle strain, but you should remember that you can only provide first aid, everything else is the task of a professional.

Pain relief and inflammation relief

The first measure in treatment is to reduce pain. To start, you can apply an ice compress or a cloth soaked in cold water to the affected area. To prevent hypothermia, it is important to cover the skin with a light cloth, otherwise you can aggravate your condition and cause additional damage.

After this, contact a medical specialist: in most cases, he will prescribe you non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Diclofenac or Nimesulide). Currently, such medications are sold by prescription, so you cannot do without visiting a doctor. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also available in the form of ointments, which should be applied to the damaged area several times a day. This method will alleviate the patient’s condition and help eliminate tissue swelling.

Temporary restriction of mobility

After a muscle strain, it is important to limit the movement of the affected part of the body. If a limb is injured, it is advisable to keep it in an elevated position. In addition, it is recommended to apply an elastic bandage, which will eliminate pain and help relax muscle tissue. Only after 48 hours are gentle physical activities allowed.

Therapeutic exercise and other methods

Two days after the injury, the pain should decrease, so a specialist may recommend several sessions of physical therapy. Smooth and slow movements can be performed under the supervision of a specialist; if painful sensations occur, exercise should be stopped immediately. Please note that it is useful to do exercise while taking a warm bath: this will increase muscle elasticity.

After receiving an injury, the patient needs feasible and regular physical activity. For example, if you have a muscle strain in your leg, it is important to walk a short distance using a cane after a few days.

Massage may be prescribed simultaneously with physical therapy. The massage is carried out by a specialist who knows exactly how to influence the damaged areas in order to prevent pain. As a result of several sessions of professional massage, it is possible to improve overall well-being and restore muscle tone.

After another two days, you can begin physical therapy. When treating muscle strains, methods such as electrical stimulation and acupuncture are effective, in which specialists act on biologically active points. As a result, it is possible to improve blood circulation and restore muscle elasticity.

Treatment for muscle strains can take a long time (from one week to two months). It is important to take an integrated approach, use medication and physiotherapeutic methods.

Features of the clinical picture

Experts distinguish three main degrees of severity of joint ligament damage, the type of which determines the characteristics of the clinical picture of the pathological condition:

I degree or mild damage is the occurrence of minimal ruptures of individual fibers with the formation of a small zone of tissue damage. This condition is characterized by pain of moderate intensity and preservation of the ability to move the joint. With a mild degree of ligament rupture, there is no hematoma.
II degree (medium) or so-called incomplete ligament rupture. In practice, the injury is manifested by the development of severe pain in the area of the affected joint, pronounced swelling of the soft tissues, and a sharp limitation of movements.
III degree or severe rupture - complete separation of the fibrous elements, which is characterized by sharp, intense pain, severe swelling in the area of the injured joint, hemorrhage with the formation of a hematoma and impaired motor function. In such a joint, when performing movements, a specific click and pain occurs, as well as pathological mobility or instability.

Symptoms of these injuries may vary from patient to patient depending on the characteristics of their body. When a sprain is severe or completely torn, some people have severely limited mobility, while others can move around despite pain. This depends on the pain threshold of a particular person, his hardening and sports training.

Causes of injury

Muscles are characterized by an increase in elasticity at elevated temperatures and a decrease when cooled. That is why, when a person freezes, the muscles become “wooden” and movements are constrained. In this condition, the risk of getting a sprain is much higher. In winter, when falls occur, the number of people who go to the emergency room with signs of a serious sprain increases many times over.

For beginners who come to the gym and neglect warm-up exercises, the first workouts often end with immobilization and treatment of sprains in damaged muscles of the arms, legs, neck and back.

First aid

If the ligaments of a joint are damaged, first aid must be provided immediately after the incident, which will prevent the development of complications of the injury and help shorten the recovery period.

The algorithm for providing first aid for such violations is as follows:

ensuring complete rest and absolute immobility of the damaged area, which will prevent further injury to the joint tissues;
applying ice to the sore spot to reduce swelling and stop internal bleeding;
fixing the damaged joint by applying a tight bandage using an elastic bandage or other available materials;
placing the injured limb above the level of the body, which reduces the manifestations of hematoma and tissue swelling.

In case of severe pain, it is necessary to take painkillers. After providing first aid, a patient with a joint ligament injury must be transported to a medical facility for more detailed diagnosis and qualified treatment of the injury.

Rehabilitation

How the resulting muscle strain will affect the return to performance depends on the severity of the case. In a mild case, a few days of rest will be enough; in the case of a serious injury with a rupture and surgery, the sprain of the injured muscle will have to be restored not only with the help of medications, but also with massages and exercise therapy. A physiotherapist will tell you how to properly treat in order to fully restore the functioning of a muscle group. The ability to stretch muscles may be partially lost if the muscle bundle has been shortened after stitching. You will have to develop fibers to teach the muscles to be elastic again.

What is the best thing to do for parents of an injured child or relatives of an elderly person who has suffered a sprained spinal muscle? Since the main goal is to ensure rest, you will have to monitor the victim while you treat the sprain. Children are restless, and older people may persist due to age because they feel uncomfortable with the need to depend on others.

With an injury such as a muscle strain, fixing bandages and splints will be useful, allowing you to relieve part of the load and fix the injured muscle. If you notice signs of a sprain, provide the necessary assistance and call a doctor or take it to a medical center. Afterwards, to create comfortable conditions regardless of the severity of the condition, in the Heart online store you will find everything you need to facilitate the patient’s rehabilitation process and create favorable conditions for restoring lost function. All products are of high quality and have successfully proven themselves in the market of devices for caring for the sick, disabled and elderly.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of ligament damage begins with a detailed medical examination of the patient, collection of complaints and medical history, as well as palpation of the affected area. To make a final diagnosis, the patient is prescribed a series of examinations that allow one to assess the condition of the internal structures of the joint, namely:

X-ray examination (as a rule, X-rays are taken in two projections);
ultrasound examination of the joint condition;
magnetic resonance imaging, which is prescribed in the most difficult cases in terms of diagnosis and is the most informative method for diagnosing traumatic lesions of bone joints.

The answer to the question whether a patient has a sprain or rupture of a joint ligament can only be given by a professional doctor, based on data from an objective examination of the affected area, as well as on the results of additional diagnostic methods for the affected area.

Symptoms of a Muscle Strain

When a muscle is pulled, there is usually pain, swelling, or swelling in the injured area. Hematomas may appear. Pain from a muscle strain can be either mild or very severe, significantly limiting physical activity. If the back muscle is strained, then any additional load - turning or bending - leads to increased pain. Rest, on the contrary, helps reduce pain. As the muscle strain wears off, small scars may appear, so the muscle may not be as flexible or strong after the injury. Often damage to the back muscles is accompanied by the development of swelling of the lumbar region and the appearance of bruises. If the muscle cannot be contracted, consult a doctor; this may be a sign of a tear or rupture of the muscle.

What are the causes of sprains?

“Sprain” is a common term in everyday life, but it misinterprets ligament damage. These strong connective tissue cords are inelastic. When exposed to loads exceeding the strength limits of the ligaments, their fibers rupture rather than stretch. The mechanisms of foot injury are different:

rotational gap. The cause of damage to the ligaments is a sharp turn of the foot inward while simultaneously moving the leg and body forward. Such injuries are quite common when walking on slippery or uneven surfaces, and also occur while jogging;
tucking. At the moment of unnatural rotation of the foot, tension occurs in the ligaments, which, against the background of imbalance, provokes their rupture. External connective tissue cords, which are exposed to increased loads, are more often damaged.

Joint hypermobility, wearing high-heeled shoes, previous ankle injuries, excessive physical activity, and excess weight predispose to sprains. Inflammatory or destructive-degenerative processes in the foot, the causes of which are arthritis, arthrosis, tendovaginitis, and synovitis, can provoke injury.