Skip to content
WebMD: Better information. Better health.
 
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

  • Chest Pain
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Severe Bleeding
  • Sudden Weakness or Numbness
  • A Medical Emergency
Font Size
A
A
A

Understanding Sprains and Strains -- Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Sprains and Strains?

Sprains affect your joints. Strains affect your muscles. Both usually occur after a fall or sudden movement that violently pulls or twists a part of your body. Chronic overuse of muscles or joints can also cause strains and sprains.

Symptoms of a sprain:

  • Pain in the affected joint
  • Rapid swelling of a joint, often accompanied by bruising
  • Stiffness and difficulty moving a joint 
  • Increase in skin temperature near the swelling, and redness of the skin

Symptoms of a strain:

  • Sharp pain at the site of an injury
  • Inability to fully bear weight on one's knee or ankle
  • Limited range of motion of the shoulder, elbow, or wrist

 

Call Your Doctor About a Strain or Sprain If:

  • The pain, swelling, or stiffness does not improve in two to three days
  • You feel a popping sensation when you move a sprained joint; this may indicate a serious injury that requires immediate medical treatment.
  • You can't move or bear weight on an injured joint. You may have a broken bone.
  • The bones in an injured joint don't seem to be aligned properly. The ligaments that hold the joint together may be badly torn, requiring surgical repair.
  • An injured muscle doesn't move at all. The muscle may be torn completely through and require immediate medical attention.
  • You have repeated sprains or strains, indicating a chronic weakness that should be evaluated by a doctor.
  • You have difficulty moving or walking after straining any back muscle.
  • You have a fever, and the injured area is red and hot. You may have an infection.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood, MD on April 09, 2012

FIRST AID A-Z

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

WebMD the app

Get first aid information. Whenever. Wherever... with your iPhone, iPad or Android.

Find Out More