Bone, muscle and joint injuries happen. They can occur while we’re working, exercising or doing chores, or they can result from household or automotive accidents.
Anytime we’re moving, exerting force on our musculoskeletal system, we’re at risk for sprains, strains and fractures. This time of year, we think of these injuries as exercise-related injuries, because we worry about our young athletes who may be competing in their favorite youth, high school or college sports.
Let’s take some time this week to review sprains, strains and fractures to help us understand the differences among these injuries and how they’re treated.
Our bones are connected at our joints by tough, fibrous tissues called ligaments. A sprain occurs when we stretch or tear those ligaments. Symptoms of a sprain include pain, swelling, bruising and limited mobility.
Sometimes, if you hear or feel a pop during an injury, it can be a sign of a sprain.
A strain occurs when we injure a muscle or tendon, which is the tissue that attaches our muscles to our bones. Strains are usually caused by a single or repetitive motion that stresses the muscle or tendon that becomes injured.
Strains may also cause pain, swelling and bruising, but other symptoms can include muscle spasms, cramping, weakness and immobility.
Both sprains and strains are commonly caused by activities associated with many sports, such as pivoting quickly or running on a wet, slippery field.
And both injuries can be treated using the RICE method:
• R — Rest the injury for 48 hours
• I — Apply ice for 20 minutes at a time, four to eight times a day
• C — Compress the injury to reduce swelling
• E — Elevate the injured limb to about eight inches above the heart
While it’s helpful to know how to heal these injuries, prevention is always better than treatment. Stretching, light jogging and range-of-motion exercises can loosen your muscles before any game or activity, reducing your risk of injury.
Sprains and strains can be treated at home, but if you suspect you have a fracture, you should seek advice from a medical professional. If you can’t move the joint, can’t bear to put weight on the limb, feel numbness in the injured area, or have swelling or bruising directly over a bone, visit your doctor or an urgent care clinic right away.
Any loss of continuity in a bone is called a fracture, but healthcare providers might also use the term “break” whether they’re describing a hairline crack or a bone that’s been shattered from a traumatic incident.
The most common types of fractures include:
• Segmental (one bone broken in two places)
• Comminuted (one bone broken in three or more places)
• Compression (bone crushed and flattened)
• Spiral (spiral-shaped fracture around the bone)
• Transverse (fracture forms across the bone rather than up and down its length)
• Greenstick (bone bends and cracks rather than breaking)
The average fracture takes about six to eight weeks to heal. Bones typically heal themselves by creating new bone tissue that repairs the fracture. At first, new bone tissue is soft, which is why we protect small bones like fingers or toes by immobilizing them. Your doctor will immobilize larger bones using devices like casts, slings, splints, wraps and boots.
Proper care and the right amount of time can get you fully healed from a sprain, strain or fracture and back to your favorite activities. As always, if an injury is serious or life-threatening, call 911 or get to your nearest emergency room immediately.
Dr. Alfred Casale, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is chief medical officer for surgical services for Geisinger and chair of the Geisinger Heart and Vascular Institute. Readers may write to him via ae@timesleader.com.
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