Sprains and strains: Overview
Pain from sprains and strains
Sprains and strains are common injuries affecting the muscles and ligaments.1,2
A sprain is a torn or twisted ligament caused by applying abnormal or excessive force to a joint, most commonly affecting the wrists, ankles, or knees.1,2
A strain is an overstretched or torn muscle — or 'pulled muscle' that typically occurs in the feet, legs, and back.1,2
These soft-tissue injuries are a frequent cause of pain. However, they can be managed with a variety of interventions.1,2
Soft-tissue injuries are a common cause of pain
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Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most prevalent types of pain3
According to a global online survey of over 24,000 people across 24 countries including Canada, among those who experience regular pain, over 9 out of 10 people experience muscular pain or strains.3*
* These data were derived from the Global Pain Index, a survey which asked people to self-define pain they had experienced at any point in time.3
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Young adults are prone to muscular pain or strains3
Muscle pain and soft-tissue injuries such as strains are particularly common in individuals aged 18–34 years.3
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Strains are frequent in people who play sports4
Muscle strains account for up to 50% of all injuries suffered during sports.5
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Muscular pains and strains are common reasons to see a physician
Around 30–50% of musculoskeletal injuries assessed in primary care are soft-tissue injuries.6
Meet Terry & Nicola
Terry
Terry* balances the demands of his full-time job with taking care of two young children.
He enjoys going to the gym or exercising outdoors and loves nothing more than playing with his children.
He experienced an ankle sprain yesterday from playing tennis and it is now starting to affect his day-to-day life.
His pain: joint pain.
He describes having a red, swollen left ankle, and the pain feels a little worse after walking.
* Fictional case study.
![[Woman gardening]](https://i-cf65.ch-static.com/content/dam/cf-consumer-healthcare/health-professionals/en_CA/pain-relief/conditions/Nicola%20970x416.png?auto=format)
Nicola
Nicola* is a busy mom who travels to the city for work.
She loves gardening, tending to her plants and flowerbeds on the weekends. After a day of carrying bags of moss and soil to build a new garden bed, she strained her back.
Her pain: back pain.
She describes that her back feels stiff and feels worse when she bends forward or sits down.
* Fictional case study.
Understanding acute sprains and strains
Signs and symptoms
Explore how to recognize acute sprains and strains and learn when a referral to a doctor is necessary.
Learn more
Voltaren products
Help your patients manage their acute, localized muscle, joint and back pain with our pain-relieving topical products.7,8
Advil — for all your patients’ acute pain relief needs
With proven efficacy in acute pain and a well-established safety profile — you can trust the pain relief of ibuprofen in Advil.9
Acute back and neck pain
Learn more about acute back and neck pain and how it can be relieved.
