How is a fracture different from a sprain How are they similar?
However, the difference is pretty simple — a fracture is a break in your bone, while a sprain is a soft tissue injury. Sprains happen when the ligaments around your joint either stretch too far or tear. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a fall or a sports injury.
What’s the difference between a sprain and a strain?
The difference between a sprain and a strain is that a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together, while a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
How do you tell if I sprained my ankle?
Symptoms
- Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot.
- Tenderness when you touch the ankle.
- Swelling.
- Bruising.
- Restricted range of motion.
- Instability in the ankle.
- Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury.
How do you know if its a sprain or a break?
If you can walk with soreness, it is unlikely that it is broken. Is there significant swelling? If the injured area experiences immediate and severe swelling, that could be a sign of a broken bone or fracture. However, if the swelling is mild and develops gradually, it is likely a sprain or strain.
Can a sprain be worse than a fracture?
A fracture is an injury to a bone when the tissue of the bone is broken. Many fractures will as strong as it was originally therefore, higher grade sprains can be worse than a fracture.
Can a fractured ankle be mistaken for a sprain?
The symptoms of a sprain and of a fracture are very similar. In fact, fractures can sometimes be mistaken for sprains. That’s why it’s important to have an ankle injury evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. The signs include: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: “Ankle Fractures.”
What is recovery like for an ankle sprain or fracture?
You will feel a pop or tearing sound when the injury occurs.
How long does it take to recovery from an ankle sprain?
Mild and moderate low ankle sprains usually take about two to six weeks to recover from and get back to strenuous activities, such as sports. Severe low ankle sprains usually take about 6 to 12 weeks of rehab and recovery to get back to strenuous activities.