Sprains and strains: symptoms, treatment and which doctor to see
The difference between a sprain and a strain, how to treat one at home, signs that it may be a fracture, when you need an X-ray and when to see a doctor.
Also known as: Ligament Injuries; Muscle Strain
What sprains and strains are
Sprains and strains are among the most common injuries, and they happen at home, at work, on the playground and during sport. The two words are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things:
- A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament, the strong band of tissue that connects one bone to another at a joint. Ankles, knees, wrists and thumbs are most often affected.
- A strain is a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon, the cord that attaches muscle to bone. The back, hamstrings at the back of the thigh, calf and groin are common sites.
Both range from mild, where fibres are overstretched, to severe, where a ligament, muscle or tendon is torn completely. Most mild and moderate injuries heal well with simple care at home and a gradual return to activity. Severe injuries may need a brace, a longer period of rehabilitation, and occasionally surgery.
Symptoms
- Pain around the injured joint or muscle, often worse when you move it or put weight on it
- Swelling, which may build up over the first day
- Bruising, which may appear after a day or two and spread
- Difficulty moving the joint or using the muscle normally
- Muscle spasm or cramping with a strain
- With a sprain, a pop or tearing feeling at the time of injury, and a feeling that the joint is unstable or gives way
A broken bone can look very similar to a bad sprain. Signs that suggest a fracture include being unable to put any weight on the leg at all, pain directly over a bone, a deformed or crooked-looking limb, and numbness or a cold, pale hand or foot.
Causes and risk factors
Sprains usually happen when a joint is forced beyond its normal range, for example by twisting an ankle on an uneven road, landing awkwardly after a jump, or falling on an outstretched hand. Strains happen when a muscle is overstretched or contracts too forcefully, such as when sprinting, lifting something heavy with poor technique or bending and twisting at the same time. Some strains develop gradually from repeated movements.
You are more likely to be injured if you:
- Play sports such as cricket, football, badminton, kabaddi or basketball, especially without warming up
- Exercise when tired, or suddenly increase the amount or intensity of training
- Walk or run on uneven, wet or slippery surfaces, such as broken pavements and potholed roads during the monsoon
- Wear poorly fitting or worn-out footwear, or high heels
- Lift heavy loads at home or work without bending the knees
- Have had the same injury before, or have weak or stiff muscles
How it is diagnosed
A doctor will ask how the injury happened, examine the area for tenderness, swelling and bruising, and gently test how well the joint moves and whether it is stable. Many sprains and strains are diagnosed on examination alone. Imaging may be used:
- X-ray — to check for a broken bone when there is pain over a bone, you cannot bear weight, or the injury was severe
- Ultrasound — to look at muscles, tendons and some ligaments
- MRI — to look for a complete ligament or tendon tear, or damage inside a joint such as the knee, usually when symptoms do not settle or surgery is being considered
Treatment
First few days
For most sprains and strains, the first two to three days of care follow a simple pattern:
- Rest — avoid activities that cause pain, and use crutches if you cannot walk without limping badly, but do not keep the limb completely still for long
- Ice — apply an ice pack or ice wrapped in a thin cloth for short periods several times a day; never put ice directly on the skin
- Compression — a firm, but not tight, elastic bandage can limit swelling; loosen it if the toes or fingers become numb, cold or pale
- Elevation — keep the injured part raised on pillows, above the level of the heart if you can
In the first couple of days, avoid hot fomentation, hot water bags, heavy massage and alcohol, which can increase swelling. Simple painkillers from a pharmacist or doctor can help; check with a doctor first if you have stomach ulcers, kidney disease, asthma or are on blood thinners.
Recovery
As pain eases, gentle movement and stretching help healing, followed by exercises to rebuild strength and balance. Physiotherapy is especially useful after moderate or severe injuries and for ankle sprains, which can recur if balance and strength are not restored. A brace or support may be advised for a time. Most mild injuries improve within a few weeks; severe ones can take months. Complete tears of some ligaments or tendons, or a joint that keeps giving way, may need surgery, which your orthopaedic surgeon will discuss with you.
Prevention
- Warm up before sport or exercise, and cool down and stretch afterwards
- Build up training gradually rather than in sudden bursts
- Wear footwear that fits well and suits the activity
- Strengthen and balance-train the muscles around joints that have been injured before
- Lift with your knees bent and the load close to your body
- Take extra care on wet or uneven surfaces, and keep floors and stairs at home free of clutter
When to see a doctor
See a doctor the same day if you cannot put weight on the injured leg, the joint looks deformed, there is pain directly over a bone, the area is numb, or the pain and swelling are severe. See a doctor within a few days if the injury is not improving or you still cannot use the joint normally after a week or two.
Call 112 or 108, or go to the nearest emergency department, if the injury came from a serious fall or road accident, a bone is visible or the limb is badly deformed, the hand or foot is cold, pale or blue, or there is a head, neck or back injury.
Which doctor to see
Mild sprains and strains are often managed at home or with advice from a general physician. An orthopaedic surgeon is the right specialist for severe injuries, a suspected fracture or complete tear, an unstable joint, or an injury that is not healing. A physiotherapist helps with rehabilitation and preventing re-injury.
You can find orthopaedic surgeons in Bengaluru or physiotherapists in Bengaluru on The Doctor Index, each with a registration you can check. Pain that develops gradually in a tendon may be tendinitis, and shoulder injuries can involve the rotator cuff.
Common questions
Questions people ask
- Should I use ice or heat on a sprain?
- Use ice, wrapped in a thin cloth, for short periods during the first two to three days to reduce pain and swelling. Avoid heat, hot fomentation and heavy massage in this early phase, as they can increase swelling. Gentle warmth may help stiffness later on.
- How do I know if it is a sprain or a fracture?
- It can be hard to tell without an X-ray. Being unable to take any weight on the leg, pain directly over a bone, a deformed limb or numbness all suggest a fracture. If you are unsure, see a doctor the same day for examination and, if needed, an X-ray.
- How long does a sprained ankle take to heal?
- Mild ankle sprains often improve within a couple of weeks, while more severe ones can take several weeks to a few months. Doing the exercises your doctor or physiotherapist recommends speeds recovery and lowers the chance of spraining the same ankle again.
- Should I tie a crepe bandage tightly?
- No. A compression bandage should feel firm but not tight. If your toes or fingers become numb, tingly, cold, pale or blue, or the pain worsens, loosen it at once. Remove it at night unless your doctor advises otherwise.
This condition is usually assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon. Every profile shows the doctor’s registration and what has been checked.
Orthopaedic surgeons in Bangalore
A few orthopaedic surgeons listed on The Doctor Index. They are shown because of their speciality, not a stated interest in Sprains and Strains; ask the clinic whether the doctor sees it.
Related conditions
- Bursitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Fractures
- Herniated Disk
- Muscle Cramps
- Osteoporosis
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
Practical reading
All postsSources
- MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine — Sprains and Strains
- Government of India — Emergency Response Support System (112)
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine — Sprains and Strains — Public-domain health-topic summary
Sprains and strains: symptoms, treatment and which doctor to see is original text by The Doctor Index; the compiled source draft was used for research. Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999; July 2026 data, CC BY 4.0. This product uses the Human Phenotype Ontology (hp/releases/2026-09-01). Only sources listed for this article apply. Source material has been selected and arranged; HPO definitions are reproduced without alteration. No source organisation endorses this compilation. Köhler S et al. The Human Phenotype Ontology project: linking molecular biology and disease through phenotype data. Nucleic Acids Research 2014;42(D1):D966–D974. doi:10.1093/nar/gkt1026.
General information, not advice about your situation. Errors can be reported through the corrections process. Reference TDI-C-2237.