Editing Sprain (section)

{{short description|Damage to one or more ligaments in a joint}}
{{Not to be confused with|Joint dislocation}}
{{for|the band|Sprain (band)}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name = Sprain
| synonyms = Torn ligament, distortion
| image = 
| caption = A [[sprained ankle]] with bruising and swelling
| pronounce = 
| field = [[Sports medicine]], [[physical medicine & rehabilitation]], [[orthopedics]], [[family medicine]], [[emergency medicine]]
| symptoms = Pain, swelling, bruising, joint instability, limited range of motion of the injured joint
| complications = 
| onset = 
| duration = '''Mild cases''' - few days to six weeks 
<br/>'''Severe cases''' - few weeks to months
| types = 
| causes = Trauma, sports injuries, overuse, environmental hazards
| risks = Environmental factors, age, poor training or sports gear
| diagnosis = Physical exam, joint x-ray
| differential = [[Strain (injury)|Strain]], fracture
| prevention = Frequent stretching and conditioning, bracing at risk joints during exercise
| treatment = Rest, ice, compression, elevation, NSAIDs
| medication = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
| prognosis = Mild injuries resolve well on their own. 
<br/> Severe injuries likely require surgery and physical therapy.
| frequency = 
| deaths = 
| alt = 
}}
A '''sprain''' is a [[soft tissue injury]] of the [[ligaments]] within a [[joint]], often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic [[fiber]]s made of [[collagen]] that connect two or more [[bone]]s to form a joint and are important for joint stability and [[proprioception]], which is the body's sense of limb position and movement.<ref name=":3">{{Citation|last1=Bahr|first1=Roald|title=Types and Causes of Injuries|date=2012-06-22|work=The IOC Manual of Sports Injuries|pages=1–24|editor-last=Bahr|editor-first=Roald|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|doi=10.1002/9781118467947.ch1|isbn=978-1-118-46794-7|last2=Alfredson|first2=Håkan|last3=Järvinen|first3=Markku|last4=Järvinen|first4=Tero|last5=Khan|first5=Karim|last6=Kjaer|first6=Michael|last7=Matheson|first7=Gordon|last8=Maehlum|first8=Sverre}}</ref> Sprains may be mild (first degree), moderate (second degree), or severe (third degree), with the latter two classes involving some degree of tearing of the ligament.  Sprains can occur at any joint but most commonly occur in the ankle, knee, or wrist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chestofbooks.com/health/reference/Home-Cyclopedia-Of-Health-And-Medicine/Sprained-Joints.html|title=Sprained Joints|first=Henry|last=Hartshorne|work=The Home Cyclopedia Of Health And Medicine|access-date=16 February 2010}}</ref> An equivalent injury to a [[muscle]] or [[tendon]] is known as a [[Strain (injury)|strain]].

The majority of sprains are mild, causing minor [[Edema|swelling]] and [[Bruise|bruising]] that can be resolved with [[Conservative management|conservative treatment]], typically summarized as [[RICE (medicine)|RICE]]: rest, ice, compression, elevation. However, severe sprains involve complete tears, ruptures, or [[avulsion fractures]], often leading to joint instability, severe pain, and decreased functional ability. These sprains require surgical fixation, prolonged immobilization, and [[physical therapy]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.physio-pedia.com/Ligament_Sprain|title=Ligament Sprain|website=Physiopedia|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}</ref>