• Description: A strain occurs when muscles or tendons (connect muscle to bone) around the joint are overstretched or torn.

• Common Symptom: Localised sharp pain during movement, swelling, spasms/cramping, bruising, and muscle weakness.

• Description: A sprain involves the stretching or tearing of a ligament (connect bone to bone), which stabilize a joint.

• Common Symptom: Severe pain, swelling, bruising, and joint instability. May also experience a “popping” sensation at the joint.

• Are sudden, short-term, injuries typically resulting from trauma, such as a fall or collision that can cause both strains or sprains. Although characteristically accidental, dysfunctional biomechanics can make the body more susceptible. Symptoms include immediate pain, swelling, and loss of function.

• A common example includes: Achilles tendon sprain

• Are long-term injuries associated with tissue inflammation/degradation that develops over time due to repetitive undue stress, over-use, or improperly treated acute injuries, all of which are of greater risk due to biomechanical imbalances. Symptoms are usually more

• Common examples include: Rotator cuff strain, “AC” joint sprain