• 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: Groin Strain

• 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 subtle and include stiffness, swelling, and persistent pain that often flares up with specific physical activity.

• A common example includes: Iliofemoral sprain