Sprains & Strains
Get clear answers and personalized care for painful muscle and ligament injuries.
Sprains and strains are common injuries from daily activities, recreation, and competitive sports. San Tan Physical Therapy provides thorough, one-on-one evaluation and a personalized plan to help you improve strength, mobility, and confidence.
What Is the Difference?
A sprain affects the ligaments and tissues around a joint. A strain affects muscle fibers. Both can be painful and can limit the way you move, exercise, work, or enjoy everyday activities.
Severity is commonly described as grade I, II, or III. Understanding the injury can help you know when prompt evaluation is important.
Understanding Sprains
A sprain is a tear of the ligaments and capsules around a joint. Ligaments are bundles of somewhat elastic collagen tissue that attach one bone to another. Joint capsules partially or completely surround a joint.
Grade I Sprain
A minimal number of ligament fibers are involved. Pain and swelling may be present, with only mild loss of function.
Grade II Sprain
This is a moderate or partial ligament tear. Moderate to severe pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of joint function are typical. For example, walking may be extremely difficult with a grade II ankle sprain.
Grade III Sprain
A complete tear of the ligament or joint capsule into two pieces. Severe pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of function can occur. Orthopaedic evaluation and possible surgical repair may be necessary.
Understanding Strains
A strain is a tear of muscle fibers—the individual units that make up your muscles. A strain can happen when a muscle is called upon to perform strong or repeated contractions.
Grade I Strain
A mild disruption of muscle fibers. You may notice mild swelling and tenderness, and it may be painful to stretch or use the injured muscle.
Grade II Strain
Moderate muscle-fiber damage causes moderate to severe pain with use and stretching. Bruising, also called ecchymosis, may occur when damaged blood vessels bleed within and around the muscle.
Grade III Strain
The most severe strain is a complete tear of a muscle or separation of the muscle from its tendon. Severe pain, complete loss of strength, swelling, bruising, and a palpable indentation may be present. Medical evaluation and surgical repair may be necessary.
Personalized Care for Moving Forward
At San Tan Physical Therapy, our goal is to help you return to the activities that matter to you. Your therapist will listen to your concerns, evaluate your movement, and create a care plan tailored to your injury and goals.
Care may progress through pain relief, introducing movement, strengthening, functional retraining, and recovery and prevention. We use a natural, conservative approach and can often see patients for a first visit within 24–48 hours.
Why choose San Tan Physical Therapy?
- Thorough, one-on-one evaluation
- Personalized care plans designed around your goals
- Hands-on care to help you improve strength, mobility, and confidence
- Licensed clinical experts serving Queen Creek and San Tan since 2006
- Direct insurance billing and immediate appointments available
Related Conditions & Services
Explore additional care options that may support your recovery.
Ankle Sprains & Instability
Learn more about care for ankle injuries and instability.
Therapeutic Exercise
Progressive movement and strengthening can be part of a successful recovery plan.
Tissue and Joint Mobilization
Hands-on techniques may be used as part of individualized orthopedic care.