Sprains

A sprain is an injury that happens when one of your ligaments is stretched or torn.

Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect bones throughout your body. They’re like ropes that hold your muscles and bones together and prevent them from moving too far. Ligaments also make sure your joints only move in the direction(s) they’re supposed to.

Sprains happen when ligaments around one of your joints are damaged. Visit a healthcare provider if you notice pain, swelling or it’s hard to use or put weight on a joint — especially if you’ve experienced a fall, injury or accident.

Types of sprains

Any joint supported by ligaments can be sprained. The most commonly sprained joints are:

• Ankle sprains (including high ankle sprains).
• Wrist sprains.
• Knee sprains.
• Finger sprains (sometimes called jammed fingers).
• Thumb sprains.

How common are sprains?

Sprains are very common. They’re one of the most common injuries, especially among athletes.