In modern
sportsmedicine parlance, a sprain is any sort of
trauma sustained to a
ligament or
capsular structure that results in stretched, torn or completely
avulsed tissues.
There are three types of sprain:
- First degree
: This sprain is the most common, usually only stretching the fibers of the ligament/capsule or tearing very few of them. This type of sprain results in a low level of pain, with little discoloration, swelling and loss of Range of Motion. There is little if any loss of stability.
- Second degree
: The tearing of about half of the fibers in a ligament or joint capsule. Results in moderate amounts of pain, tenderness, discoloration and loss of ROM & stability.
- Third degree
: The complete tearing of a ligament or capsule. This type of injury results in severe pain, point tenderness and discoloration. There is a major loss of stability and ROM is severely impaired in most cases.
Most people tend to think of a strain only in terms of a stretched ligament. I have seen good athletic trainers tell a person who is flipping out because he knows he just tore something tell him that its "just a sprain". Words can have an amazingly calming effect, especially when used with that knowledge.