A sprain is a torn muscle or ligament common in athletes. When you damage the muscle or ligament, you may notice inflammation or spasms.
Sports sprains can happen from overuse or from force — such as a collision or fall.
You can sprain almost any area of your body.
The most common types of sports sprains happen in the:
Wrist and thumb sprains happen when a force pushes the hand or finger backward.
Athletes at risk for thumb sprains are those that play:
In an ankle sprain, you can tear the ligaments:
To help prevent strains while playing sports:
To make an appointment or learn more about sprains, contact UPMC Sports Medicine at 1-855-937-7678.
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Sprains happen when you overstretch or tear the muscles and ligaments of a joint. These painful injuries can affect just about any joint in the body.
Sports sprain symptoms include:
If your joint looks out of place or your symptoms don't improve within a few days of sprain treatment, you should call a doctor.
To properly diagnose the injury, your doctor will:
To confirm a sports sprain diagnosis — and rule out fractures or more serious injuries — your doctor may request imaging tests, such as:
To make an appointment or learn more about sprain symptoms, contact UPMC Sports Medicine at 1-855-937-7678.
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If you’re wondering how to treat a sprain, the team at UPMC Sports Medicine can help.
There are a few ways to manage sports sprain inflammation and pain at home.
For a strain of any joint, you'll want to:
Depending on the severity of your sports sprain, you may need to:
In most cases of sports sprains, your doctor will prescribe a rehab or physical therapy program specific to your sport to help you get back to physical activity.
To make an appointment for sports sprain treatment, contact UPMC Sports Medicine at 1-855-937-7678.
The links below will open a new browser window.
UPMC's HealthBeat Blog: |
From our Health Library: |