A strain is an injury to a muscle and/or tendon, a cord of tissue that attaches muscles to the bone.
Strains are typically caused by overuse of a muscle or tendon. A strain has three categories: mild, moderate and severe, and you may experience any or all of these symptoms in all cases.
Symptoms of a strain include:
Pain
Muscle spasm
Muscle weakness
Swelling
Inflammation
Strains affect the tendons (an easy way to remember this is sTrains = tendons or muscles), and sprains affect the ligaments. Both tendons and ligaments are connective tissues, and both are measured by severity. You can have a mild sprain or a severe strain, or vice versa.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms of a strain, you can typically treat them by following the acronym RICE:
Rest: Avoid putting weight on the affected area.
Ice: Apply cold for 15-20 minutes at a time.
Compression: Use an elasticized wrap to compress and reduce swelling.
Elevation: Keep the area raised whenever possible, ideally to the height of your hip or higher.
If you’re experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of a strain, a medical provider at WellNow Urgent Care can help evaluate the severity of your injury. Check in online or walk in to a WellNow location nearest you.
This medical information has been reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Robert Biernbaum, Chief Medical Officer for WellNow Urgent Care.