Kids Ask:
What Are Sprains & Strains?

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, April 30 and August 13, 2006
Show 312

If you're an active kid or busy with sports, you'll probably get a strain or a sprain at some point, because they are very common injuries. To help your body move, muscles contract and relax, stretching like a rubber band. A strain happens when you push the muscle too far, causing pain and is also called a pulled muscle. It may hurt right away, or take several hours to hurt. A strain often happens to backs, necks or legs, when you haven't warmed up your muscles enough before playing. A sprain happens at a joint, where ligaments hold bones together. Sprains happen at ankles, wrists and knees, when ligaments are overstretched or torn. A sprain at a joint will hurt right away and is usually more serious. It is an injury, like when you fall and twist your ankle. In a nutshell: strains are pulled muscles; sprains are injured ligaments at joints. I hope I've cleared up a little of the confusion.