| Sprains and strains are among the majority of the | | | | they may vary accordingly. One of the symptoms |
| injuries caused while playing sports. Sports injuries can | | | | includes pain in and around the area injury. There |
| be caused by small trauma which involves ligaments, | | | | could also be a swelling around the injured area. Some |
| muscles and tendons including bruises, sprains and | | | | teens also experience difficulty when they use or |
| strains. The body part which is most commonly | | | | move the area of the body that is injured. Some |
| involved in spraining or straining is the ankle. The 3 | | | | teenagers also undergo bruises or redness in the area |
| ligaments that are involved during ankle sprain or | | | | that is injured. Many times the symptoms of sprains |
| strain include anterior talofubular ligament, posterior | | | | and strains may look similar to other medical |
| talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament. | | | | conditions and a doctor’s advice is the best |
| An injury caused to the soft tissue as a result of a | | | | option in this scenario. |
| direct force like fall, kick and blow is called a | | | | Depending on various factors the treatment of |
| contusion or a bruise. A sprain is nothing but a | | | | sprains and strains will be prescribed by the |
| ligament injury which is wrenched or twisted. Sprains | | | | teenager’s physician that include teenager’s |
| usually affect knees, wrists and ankles. On the other | | | | age, overall health of the teenager, and medical |
| hand a strain is an injury caused to a tendon or | | | | history of the adolescent. To what extent the teen |
| muscle which usually results from force, stretching | | | | is injured is also a factor in determining the nature of |
| and overuse. | | | | treatment. A teenager’s level of tolerance to |
| Sprains/Strains are usually diagnosed by a physician | | | | certain medications, therapies and procedures is also |
| after a physical examination. The physician asks for | | | | taken into consideration before opting for a particular |
| thorough medical history of the adolescent and asks | | | | method of treatment. The treatment also depends |
| various questions that lead to the cause of the injury. | | | | of what expectations one has and also preference |
| Various diagnostic procedures are also available which | | | | and opinion. |
| also helps in evaluating the problem. X-ray is one of | | | | Various options available for treatment include things |
| the oldest and common diagnostic tests done to | | | | like restriction of the activity after the injury, |
| know the extent and exact location of the injury. An | | | | application of cast/splint on the injured spot, crutches |
| x-ray uses electromagnetic waves to get photos of | | | | or wheelchair, physical therapy which involves |
| internal tissues, organs and bones onto a film. MRI | | | | stretching exercises to give strength to the muscles, |
| scan is one of the recently evolved diagnostic | | | | tendons and ligaments that are injured and last but |
| procedures which also help in evaluating a physical | | | | not the least is the surgery which is opted for in |
| injury. This procedure actually called Magnetic | | | | worst case scenario. |
| Resonance Imaging makes use of bug magnets, | | | | In the long-term scenario bruises, sprains and strains |
| computer and radio frequencies to get detailed | | | | heal pretty quickly in kids and teenagers but it is |
| pictures of structures and organs inside the body. | | | | important that the adolescent sticks to the |
| Another diagnostic procedure called Computed | | | | restrictions imposed during the treatment and healing |
| Tomography Scan or CT scan is also used to | | | | process like restriction of activity and regularly |
| evaluate the extent and location of injury. This | | | | attending physical therapy sessions if any. It is noted |
| procedure uses a blend of computers and x-rays to | | | | that majority of the sports related injuries results |
| get cross sectional pictures in horizontal and vertical | | | | either due to traumatic injury or excessive use of |
| alignment. It shows thorough pictures of any part of | | | | muscles and joints. But, they can be avoided and |
| the body like muscles, bones, fat and organs. They | | | | prevented with right training, by wearing right |
| provide more information than conventional x-rays. | | | | protective gears and by using right equipment for |
| There are various symptoms of strain and sprain | | | | training. |
| depending on each teen’s physical condition and | | | | |