Muscle Strains vs Ligament Sprains
They sound similar but are very different! Read below to learn.
Hey HealthyHips Community! This is Iysha, CEO and Founder, here to teach you about Muscle Strains v.s. Ligament Sprains.
I can bet that most of you reading this have experienced a Sprain injury or a Strain injury at some point in your life, even if it was minor.
I truly believe that learning about the body, your anatomy and physiology, is SO empowering. It allows you to understand your body in greater depth, with can provide a deeper sense of self-connection and autonomy.
So, let’s dive in to Sprains vs Strains!
First off, what’s the difference between a muscle and a ligament?
A muscle is a band or bundle of fibrous tissue that has the ability to contract. Skeletal muscles support posture and allow for voluntary movement of the body.
Muscle Example: The Biceps Brachii Muscle of the upper arm
A ligament is a band of fibrous connective tissue, made up of collagen fibres, that connects bone to bone, supports joints, and limits excessive movement that could cause injury
Ligament Example: The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee joint
Muscle Strains
A strain is a term that refers to the injury or tearing of a muscle or muscle tendon.
A strain occurs when there has been excessive stress applied to a muscle or muscle tendon, leading to the tearing of these fibres.
Strains typically occur due to a strong eccentric (lengthening) contraction that the muscle isn't prepared to handle, resulting in the overstretching and tearing of muscle fibres.
Ligament Sprains
A sprain is a term that refers to the overstretching or tearing of a ligament.
Ligaments function to support the stability of joints, and prevent abnormal movements at joints.
Ligament sprains typically occur when a person falls, twists or is hit in a way that forces a joint into a compromised position where the supporting ligament(s) overstretch and potentially tear.
What type of balls should be used for Myofascial Release?
A rubber therapy ball should be used for self myofascial release practices. The two types of rubber balls that are recommended are either the High-Bounce Pinky Ball that can be found on Amazon HERE, or Tune Up Fitness Balls which are available for purchase from the HealthyHips Prop Shop — see Add To Cart link below.
