An injury to the tendon of a muscle is called a strain.
An injury to a ligament of a joint is a sprain.
We have over 200 joints in our body and 600 muscles in the body.
There are MANY different types of strains/sprains.
These injuries can range from rolling your ankle to a full-grade tear needing surgery.
You can have an acute injury, such as spraining an ankle while hiking.
Or a chronic overuse injury, such wrist pain from typing on your computer.
WHAT TO DO:
Step 1:
RICE – Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate
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Resting lets the injury heal
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Icing reduces inflammation
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Compressing and elevating decrease swelling
Step 2:
Use Anti-inflammatory Medication
Topical Diclofenac (Voltaren Gel) or Ibuprofen (Advil) or Naproxen (Aleve)
Use these medications for the first 2-3 days.
Ibuprofen and Naproxen can cause stomach pain and affect the kidneys, so we shouldn’t use them long-term
Step 3:
Use a Brace
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Step 4:
GET BODY WORK!
Heal quicker and prevent future injury.
KEY POINTS:
Some sprains and strains can heal within a couple weeks (especially if you are a kid!).
But it will usually take 6-8 weeks and sometimes 2-3 months.
Keep Resting the Area of Injury
This prevents an acute injury from becoming a chronic injury.
Resting is avoiding the motion that is causing the pain.
Pain is the sign from your body to give the area of injury a break.
Respect your body’s healing process.
Be kind to yourself.
It’s like a Fire….
What a clear and practical guide — thank you for breaking down the differences between sprains and strains, and for laying out actionable steps like RICE, bracing, and therapeutic interventions. I especially appreciate the emphasis on resting the area and being mindful of your body’s healing pace.
Your explanation aligns well with what I’ve read elsewhere — for example, Vitabella’s resource on injury recovery also underlines the importance of combining rest, gradual mobilization, and professional care as key pillars of rehab. (See more at vitabella.com/injury-and-recovery.)
Overall, this post gives readers confidence and guidance, not just theory — very well done!