A ligament is a soft tissue that connects bone to bone. A ligament sprain is a stretching or tearing of one or more ligaments in the body. These can be mild, moderate, or severe and are most often caused when a ligament is stretched beyond its capacity or challenged with a sudden load.
Symptoms
Noticeable loss of muscle strength surrounding the joint
Loss of range of motion of the joint
Pain and stiffness in joint
Possible swelling
Possible bruising
Risk factors
Muscle tightness surrounding the joint
Muscle imbalances in strength surrounding the joint
Poor conditioning
Muscle fatigue surrounding the joint
Laxity in the ligament
Sprinting
Sport requiring quick change of direction
Prevention
Proper conditioning with a regular exercise program
Warm up prior to any exercise session or sports activity
Wear appropriate protective gear for sport or activity
Take time to cool down properly after exercise
Give injuries time to heal before return to activity.
Diagnosis
Can be mild, moderate, or severe depending on damage to the ligament
Mild- grade 1-slight stretching and some damage to the fibers of the ligament.
Moderate- grade 2- partial tearing of the ligament. There is abnormal looseness (laxity) in the joint when it is moved in certain ways.
Severe- grade 3- Complete tear of the ligament. This causes significant instability and makes the joint nonfunctional.
Treatment options
Most ligament sprains are treated non-surgically with rest, ice, compression, elevation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and mild physical rehabilitation exercises. More severe sprains resulting in tearing of the ligament may require surgery to stitch the torn pieces back together.
Why Rothman?
Rothman Institute Orthopedic physicians are trained to diagnose ligament sprains through their physical evaluations. However, an MRI may be needed in some cases to determine the extent, or grade, of damage to the ligament.