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Sprains and strains may be common but they should never be ignored. Whether it's a twisted ankle, a pulled muscle, or a lingering ache from overexertion, sprains and strains can sideline you from the activities you love. Don’t let a soft tissue injury turn into a chronic problem.
With the right care, you can heal faster, move better, and return to life with confidence. With expert evaluation and targeted treatment, you can avoid long-term complications and come back even stronger. Whether you’ve suffered a recent injury or are still dealing with lingering discomfort, we’re here to help you rebuild strength, restore movement, and get back to your best. Schedule a consultation today with one of our expert sports chiropractic physicians at Hughes Health and take your first step toward relief!
About Sprains & Strains
& Anatomy That Contributes
Sprains and strains are some of the most common musculoskeletal injuries, but they affect different parts of your body:
• A SPRAIN occurs when ligaments, the tough bands of tissue that connect bones at a joint, are stretched or torn.
• A STRAIN involves injury to muscles or the tendons, which attach muscles to bones, causing it to stretch or tear.
These injuries can happen suddenly from trauma or gradually from repetitive stress. While mild cases may just feel like soreness or tightness, more severe injuries can cause swelling, instability, bruising, or loss of motion. The most commonly affected areas include:
• Ankles and Knees (ankle sprains, hamstring strains)
• Shoulders and Elbows (rotator cuff strains, biceps or triceps strains)
• Wrists and Thumbs (common in falls or sports injuries)
• Back and Neck Muscles (often from improper lifting or posture)
Understanding where and how these tissues are injured is essential to not just recover, but recover well!
Common Causes of Sprains & Strains
Understanding Why It Happens
Sprains and strains can result from a wide range of daily activities and physical demands, such as:
• Sudden Twisting or Impact: Like rolling an ankle or falling on an outstretched hand.
• Overuse or Repetitive Motion: Seen in athletes, laborers, or anyone with repetitive tasks.
• Improper Lifting Techniques: Straining the lower back or shoulders when lifting incorrectly.
• Inadequate Warm-Up or Conditioning: Starting a workout without preparing your muscles.
• Poor Balance or Weak Core Muscles: Increases risk of joint instability and muscle overload.
Recovery depends on how long your sprain and strain has been an issue:
• Acute Sprains and Strains happens suddenly. The sooner you address it, the faster your recovery.
• Sprains and Strains are considered chronic if it persists for more than 3 months. It can become harder to treat because your body starts adapting to the discomfort and will alter your biomechanics. That’s why early intervention is key!
Sprains and strains recovery also varies significantly based on the severity of the injury. Most sprains and strains heal within 6 to 12 weeks with proper care. However, recovery time depends on the severity of the injury:
• Grade I (Mild): Typically heals within 2–4 weeks.
• Grade II (Moderate): May take 8–16 weeks for full recovery.
• Grade III (Severe): Can require several months and possibly surgical intervention.
Every person and injury is different, so personalized treatment and proper rehab make a big difference in healing time.
Common Conditions Related to Sprains & Strains
Sprains and strains are often tied to or lead to other musculoskeletal conditions, including:
Chronic Joint Instability: Especially in the ankles or knees after repeated sprains.
Tendinitis: Inflammation of tendons from chronic overuse or strain.
Muscle Spasms: Often seen in back or neck strains due to overexertion or poor posture.
Bursitis: Inflammation of cushioning sacs (bursa) near joints due to strain or trauma.
Compensatory Injuries: Overcompensating for a sprain/strain can lead to pain in other areas.
Treatments for Sprains & Strains
Find Relief Once & For All
Before we are able to treat your sprain pain or strain pain at Hughes Health, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. We start with a one-on-one consultation where our doctors truly listen. We want to understand how your pain is affecting your life, whether it's keeping you from working, exercising, or simply enjoying time with family. This conversation helps us gather key details that point us toward the root cause of your pain.
In the examination, we assess your movement, muscles, ligaments, and joints using chiropractic, orthopedic, and functional movement testing. Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t working right. Our job is to find out why. Once we pinpoint the cause, we create a personalized treatment plan to restore function and get you back to living pain-free without unnecessary medications or surgery.
Sports Chiropractic: More Than Just Adjustments
At Hughes Health, we believe true recovery goes beyond spinal adjustments and manipulation. While we are chiropractors, we don’t just focus on your joints. We take a whole-body approach through Sports Rehabilitation to target the muscles and tissues that support you. Your body is more than just bones and joints, and your care should reflect that. By addressing movement, strength, and stability, we help you heal faster, stay active, and prevent future injuries so you can get back to doing what you love without limitations.
PiezoWave Focused Shockwave Therapy: Break Through Stubborn Pain
For chronic sprains or chronic strains, PiezoWave Shockwave Therapy uses focused and targeted sound waves to:
Break up scar tissue and adhesions
Increase blood flow for faster healing
Stimulate natural tissue repair—without surgery or downtime
Deep Tissue Class IV Laser Therapy: Heal from the Inside Out
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser uses light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation at the cellular level. This advanced treatment:
Boosts your body’s natural healing process
Reduces pain and inflammation in just 5-10 minutes
Feels like a gentle, warming sensation—no discomfort, just relief
Spinal Decompression: Relieve Pressure, Restore Function
If you’re struggling with neck or back sprains or strains, Spinal Decompression Therapy provides a gentle, sustained stretch to:
Reduce pressure on your spine and nerves
Relax tight or spastic muscles
Work alongside chiropractic care and corrective exercises to help you heal and prevent future injuries
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy: Digging Deep
At Hughes Health, we specialize in a wide variety of techniques to address the soft tissue causes of the pain.
Dry Needling: This targets tight or dysfunctional muscles by inserting small acupuncture needles into specific muscles and their trigger points to release tension and promote muscle recovery.
Fire Cupping: Using heated cups to create a suction effect on the skin helps increase blood flow to relieve muscle tightness and reduce pain. This warming effect has been shown to be more effective than the dry suction counterpart.
Graston Technique: Using specialized tools, we gently break up adhesions in your muscles and tendons, improving mobility and encouraging proper tissue healing.
Myofascial Release: Active Release Technique (ART), also known as manual trigger point release, takes your muscles through dynamic movement to release tension and alleviate pain at its source.
Sport Rehab and Custom Exercises: Build Strength, Prevent Injury
Pain relief is just the first step. Staying pain-free while moving and grooving is the goal. Our Custom Therapeutic Exercise Programs help you:
Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
Fix imbalances that cause recurring pain
Get back to doing what you love with confidence
The Right Care, Every Time
At Hughes Health, your recovery comes first. While we specialize in advanced chiropractic care and personalized treatment plans, we also know when you need more. If our exam reveals that additional care is necessary, we’ll connect you with our trusted network of physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and pain specialists. No guesswork, no wasted time—just the right care for the best results.
Your health is our priority. Let’s get you on the path to recovery today!
Why Choose
Hughes Health?
We take pride in providing evidence-based non-invasive approaches to healthcare. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your discomfort and pain to then provide effective and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve long-lasting results. If you're experiencing any of the conditions listed above, don't hesitate to contact us.