What it means
An injury that happens when a joint is twisted or bent beyond its normal range, most often the ankle, knee or wrist. It causes pain, swelling, bruising and trouble moving the joint. Sprains are graded from mild stretching to a complete tear. A strain is a different injury: a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon.
For the nurse
First care is often remembered as RICE: rest, ice (wrapped, about 20 minutes at a time), compression with an elastic wrap and elevation above the heart. Check circulation below a wrap. Report inability to bear weight or a deformity, which may mean a fracture.
Remember it
Strain has a t, like tendon; sprain has no t and is the ligament injury.
At a glance
| Spanish | esguince |
|---|---|
| Also written | sprains, sprained |
Related terms
limb
An arm or a leg.
mobility
The ability to move freely and easily, such as turning in bed, getting up and walking.
acute pain
Pain that starts suddenly from an injury, surgery or illness and is expected to ease as the body heals.