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Many people don’t know the difference between a sprain and a strain. At Progressive Acupuncture Wellness Center in Chicago, we certainly know the difference, so let us provide a little clarity for you. A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, and a strain is a stretched, injured, or torn muscle or tendon. To answer the question: it depends on the severity of the sprain or strain.

When a sprain occurs, the body is twisted in a certain way, which can occur during a fall or unexpected jolt to the body and causes a joint to move from its normal position, stretching or partially tearing the ligaments that support that joint.

Strains, on the other hand, can occur from overuse, lifting heavy objects, or repetitive movements that cause the muscles and tendons to twist or stretch more than their normal range of motion. The overexertion of the muscle or tendon is what causes the pain or soreness.

A sprain can happen in the joints that are used the most, such as ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and toes. Even the ligaments between the vertebrae can become sprained from lifting objects incorrectly—in this case, both sprain and strains can occur. Strains, however, typically occur in the legs, abdomen, and back based on the amount of muscle usage that occurs during activity. In both cases, the area that suffered a strain or sprain will be inflamed or swollen, and there will be a significant amount of blockage to blood flow in the area. This may cause stiffness and limited range of motion, which also causes pain. With injuries that are determined to be severe sprains or strains (i.e., complete tears), surgery may be required to repair the damaged ligament, muscle, or tendon.

To learn more about how acupuncture can help you with a sprain or strain, call Progressive Acupuncture Wellness Center in Chicago at (773) 786-9119 today and schedule an appointment with our experienced acupuncturists.

With less severe injuries, acupuncture has the potential to improve injuries that cause a large amount of swelling or inflammation. In fact, acupuncture is one of the most effective treatments used for promoting blood flow to reduce pain from acute and chronic ankle sprains and other muscular injuries that are related to sprains or strains. Acupuncture can help balance the blood flow so that the body is able to openly heal itself. Balance is the basis of acupuncture and by giving attention to the pressure points around the injured areas, it allows the body to balance itself in places that are becoming unbalanced from a sprain or strain.

X-rays and MRIs can help to determine if acupuncture will help you with your sprain or strain. This is all taken into consideration during the initial consultation with our doctors at Progressive Acupuncture Wellness Center in Chicago. The primary goal of our acupuncturists is to help you recover from your injury. If you have recently sprained or strained a part of your body, rest assured that help with recovery is available. Depending on the severity of your sprain or strain, acupuncture might be able to help reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling, so you can recover in a timely fashion. Keep in mind that everybody responds differently to acupuncture, depending your condition.

To learn more about how acupuncture can help you with a sprain or strain, call Progressive Acupuncture Wellness Center in Chicago at (773) 786-9119 today and schedule an appointment with our experienced acupuncturists.