Orthopedics:
Conditions & Treatments

Sprains and strains are among the most common injuries in sports. A sprain is a stretch and/or tear of a ligament that connects one bone to another bone. A sprain is caused by direct or indirect trauma (a fall, a blow to the body, etc.) that knocks a joint out of position, and overstretches, and, in severe cases, ruptures the supporting ligaments. Chronic strains are the result of overuse of muscles and tendons. A person with a sprain will experience pain, bruising, swelling, and inflammation and will usually feel a tear or pop in the joint. A severe sprain produces excruciating pain at the moment of injury, as ligaments tear completely, or separate from the bone.

A strain is an injury of a muscle and/or tendon. Tendons are fibrous cords of tissue that attach muscles to bone. Acute strains are caused by a direct blow to the body, overstretching, or excessive muscle contraction. Typical symptoms of a strain include pain, muscle spasm, muscle weakness, swelling, inflammation, and cramping.

Our hand and upper extremity orthopedists treat a variety of hand, wrist, and eblow sprains, including:

• General Hand & Wrist Sprains
• Tennis Elbow
• Golfer's Elbow
• Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Sprains & Injuries
• Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Srains & Injuries (Gamekeeper Thumb)

If you have questions, or to make an appointment, call: 404-778-3350.