Your kid wiped out at practice. You tweaked something at the gym. Now someone in your house is hobbling around — and you’re wondering if it’s serious.

Strain? Sprain? Is there even a difference?

There is — and knowing it helps you heal faster.

The 30-Second Breakdown

Sprain = ligament injury. Ligaments connect bone to bone. Sprains happen at joints — ankles, wrists, knees. Rolled your ankle? Classic sprain.

Strain = muscle or tendon injury. Tendons connect muscle to bone. Strains love the back, hamstrings, and shoulders — usually from lifting, pulling, or pushing your limits.

When to Come In

If there’s major swelling, bruising, or you can’t bear weight — don’t tough it out. A severe sprain can look and feel exactly like a fracture. And ignoring it? That’s how a weekend injury becomes a long-term problem.

At Night Watch Stone Ridge, we see the whole family — kids and adults — and we’ve got X-rays on-site. No ER. No runaround. Just answers to get you back to doing what you love — minus the limp.