16/09/2021
⚠️Difference between Muscle Spasm, Sprain and Strain
Spasms, sprains, and strains have very similar symptoms such as pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion, and they all involve soft tissue, but they are each a very different type of injury.
ℹ️Spasm – A spasm is an involuntary contraction of muscle. This can occur suddenly, due to trauma, and can eventually lead to a chronic spasm, which will shorten the muscle over time. A muscle which has shortened overtime has decreased range of motion, and an increased risk for re-injury.
ℹ️Sprain – A sprain happens when a ligament is stretched beyond its normal length, which causes a stretching, weakening, or possible tearing of the ligament. Sprains can occur at any joint in the body, as they all have a ligamentous component, and the most common joint sprained is the ankle.
ℹ️Strain – A sprain is an overstretched ligament, where a strain is an overstretched muscle or tendon. This is most commonly referred to as a ‘pulled’ muscle or tendon.
🔴Causes and Symptoms of Muscle Spasm’s Sprians and Strains
The symptoms for these three injuries are relatively similar, but have some distinctions:
ℹ️Spasm- A muscle spasm can occur from an acute injury or prolonged contraction due to chronic muscle imbalance. What we see mostly in sports is a short painful muscle contraction due to overuse. The symptoms of the muscle spasm may feel different depending on which muscle in the body is affected. For example, a spasm in the cervical musculature may be interpreted as a headache, and a spasm in the pectorals or chest muscle can be interpreted as a tightness or deep chest pain.
The most common symptoms of a skeletal muscle spasm are pain, tightness, and decreased range of motion, and many muscle spasms can be palpated (felt) through light touch. The musculature affected by the spasm will often feel like a lump or ball in the muscle, will often be tender to the touch, and may produce radiating pains, similar to what you experience with a trigger point.
ℹ️Strain- A strain is generally caused by an acute injury to the muscle due to overuse or a trauma. The strains can vary from minor, which will not keep you out of much physical activity, to a tear, which can keep you out for usually around 6 weeks.
Most common symptoms of a muscle strain are pain and swelling. You could also experience bruising to the area of injury, pain while resting, or pain while moving the injured muscle.
ℹ️Sprain- A sprain is almost always caused from an acute injury. The most common sprain is a lateral ankle sprain, also referred to as rolling the ankle. Sprains can range from a minor stretch or inflammation of the ligament to a full blown tear. A complete tear through the ligament will cause major instability and will require surgery. The ankle sprains we most commonly see in football come from lineman rolling over on another player’s foot, or from a running back being tackled. The most common sprain in a quarterback or receiver is an AC joint sprain. This can happen while throwing, or falling to the ground – jarring the shoulder from a tackle. Depending on the severity and location of the sprain, the treatment can last from two weeks to more than six.
The most common symptoms of a sprain are localized pain, decreased range of motion, inability to bear weight on injured joint, and instability of joint.
