Sprain & Strain Treatment
Sprains and strains are among the most common injuries we treat and among the most commonly undertreated. Whether your injury came from a sport, a sudden movement, or repetitive stress, early evaluation and proper rehabilitation are the most important factors in preventing a short term injury from becoming a long term problem.
Complete rehabilitation
Not just pain relief
The Basics
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tough connective tissue that connects bones to other bones and provides stability to joints. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, the tissue that connects muscles to bones and generates movement. While these terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, they describe distinct tissue injuries that can vary significantly in severity. Both sprains and strains are graded from mild (minor stretching or microscopic tearing) to severe (complete rupture requiring medical intervention), which is why a proper evaluation is essential to determine the extent of the injury and the most appropriate approach to care.
When a ligament, muscle, or tendon is injured, the surrounding structures immediately begin compensating to protect the damaged tissue and maintain function. This protective compensation is a normal short term response, but when it persists beyond the acute phase it can create secondary movement dysfunction, muscle imbalances, and altered joint mechanics that produce pain and limitation well beyond the original injury site. Many patients who feel their sprain or strain has healed because the acute pain has subsided are actually still dealing with residual compensation patterns and incomplete tissue recovery that leave them vulnerable to reinjury.
Sprains and strains can occur in virtually any joint or muscle group in the body and affect people of all ages and activity levels. Common causes include sudden impacts or falls, twisting movements that force a joint beyond its normal range, lifting with poor mechanics, and repetitive stress that gradually overwhelms tissue capacity over time. Ankle sprains, wrist sprains, hamstring strains, and low back strains are among the most commonly seen in a chiropractic setting, though sprains and strains affecting the shoulder, knee, hip, and neck are also frequently treated at Salt Family Chiropractic.
Signs to Watch For
Sprain and strain symptoms vary depending on the tissue involved, the severity of the injury, and how long ago it occurred. The most common signs patients experience include:
Sudden pain at the time of injury that may be sharp, aching, or burning in quality
Swelling or bruising around the affected joint or muscle within hours of the injury
Tenderness when pressing on the injured area or moving through range of motion
Stiffness or reduced range of motion in the affected joint or surrounding muscles
Weakness in the affected area that limits normal activity or sport performance
A feeling of instability or giving way in the joint, particularly with weight bearing
Muscle spasms around the injured area in response to the trauma
Pain that worsens with specific movements but improves with rest in the acute phase
Lingering pain or stiffness beyond two weeks that suggests incomplete recovery
Recurring pain or instability in an area that was previously injured and never fully rehabilitated
Our Approach
At Salt Family Chiropractic, every sprain and strain patient begins with a comprehensive evaluation to assess the severity of the injury, identify which specific tissues are involved, and determine whether any structures require imaging or medical referral before conservative care begins. We assess joint mobility, tissue integrity, muscle strength, and movement patterns in the affected area and throughout the surrounding structures to identify any compensation patterns that may have already begun to develop. This thorough assessment allows us to build a care plan that is appropriately matched to the severity and stage of the injury rather than applying a generic protocol regardless of the individual presentation.
Based on your evaluation findings, treatment may include gentle joint mobilization to restore proper motion in the affected area without stressing the healing tissue, soft tissue therapy to address muscle guarding and fascial restrictions that develop around an acute injury, progressive rehabilitation exercises to rebuild strength, stability, and neuromuscular control in the injured area, and movement retraining to correct any compensation patterns that developed during the acute phase.
For Acute Injuries
For patients with significant tissue damage or inflammation, Class IV laser therapy can be integrated into the care plan to accelerate tissue healing and reduce pain more efficiently in the early stages of recovery.
The Salt Difference
— 01
Not all sprains and strains are the same. We evaluate the severity of the tissue damage, which specific structures are involved, and whether anything requires imaging or medical referral before beginning conservative care. This individualized approach ensures that your treatment is appropriately matched to your specific injury rather than a generic sprain and strain protocol.
— 02
The decisions made in the first days and weeks after a sprain or strain significantly influence the long term outcome. Early evaluation allows us to begin appropriate care before compensation patterns become established, before scar tissue forms around inadequately rehabilitated tissue, and before the injury cycle that leads to chronic instability and recurring injury takes hold.
— 03
We do not consider a sprain or strain resolved when the acute pain subsides. True recovery requires restoring full joint stability, muscle strength, neuromuscular control, and movement mechanics in the affected area. Our care plans are designed to take patients through the complete rehabilitation process so they return to full activity with the tissue capacity and movement quality needed to stay healthy.
Good to Know
How do I know if I have a sprain or a strain?
Should I see a chiropractor after a sprain or strain?
How long does a sprain or strain take to heal?
Can an old sprain cause ongoing problems?
Do I need imaging for a sprain or strain?
Can I exercise with a sprain or strain?
Explore More
Condition
Sprains and strains are among the most common sports injuries affecting athletes and active individuals at every level. Learn more about how we evaluate and treat the full range of sports injuries including those involving acute and chronic soft tissue damage.
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Service
For patients with significant tissue damage or inflammation from an acute sprain or strain, laser therapy can be integrated into the early stages of your care plan to accelerate tissue healing and reduce pain more efficiently alongside rehabilitation.
Learn more
Condition
Incompletely rehabilitated sprains often lead to chronic joint instability and pain in the ankles, knees, wrists, and shoulders. Learn more about how we evaluate and treat the full range of extremity joint conditions including those related to old sprain and strain injuries.
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