The difference between shoulder strains or sprains

Shoulder sprains and strains are very common shoulder injuries that patients see us for. Because the shoulder joint is so mobile, it is easily susceptible to injury, ranging from a minor to an extreme injury. Here we want to talk about two more mild shoulder injuries, a shoulder strain and a shoulder sprain. While they look and sound similar, there are important factors that may change the process of care.

In general, a strain is when some of the fibers in the muscle or tendon overstretch or tear, while a sprain occurs when the ligaments overstretch or tear. Tendons are the fibers that connect bone to muscle, while ligaments connect bone to bone. Because the injuries are happening in the same area of the body, it can be an easy mistake to guess one over the other. Some common and overlapping symptoms include pain around the shoulder, swelling, limited flexibility, difficulty using the shoulder’s full range of motion, and of course, discomfort and pain. The main signals that your injury is a strain is muscle spasming, while for a sprain it is bruising. Typically, this is the difference we are looking for.

In more severe cases, if the muscle, tendon, or ligament completely tear, surgery would be the first step to recovery, but in more common and mild cases, care can be taken care of with:

1. Rest – try not to use the shoulder while it heals. No heavy lifting, be careful getting dressed, and refrain from any physical activity that involves using your shoulder.
2. Ice – ice reduces swelling and inflammation in the body. Ice your shoulder in cycles, apply for 15-20 minutes, then remove for 20 minutes. Repeat as much as you can, especially when the symptoms first begin.
3. Compression – keeping the shoulder compressed should help avoid excessive swelling. Wrap the affected area tightly enough to compress the muscle, but loose enough that you do not reduce blood supply.

While taking care of the shoulder sprain or strain on your own, it’s important to work with a physical therapist to make sure you regain range of motion as well as your strength back. Your physical therapist will teach you exercises to help both strengthen and stretch the shoulder joint, rotator cuff, and muscles around it to help prevent further injury. A lot of these activities you will be able to do from home, and adding them to your regular schedule can help alleviate the pain.