The most commonly sprained or strained joint is the ankle. Instead, children are prone to fractures. The immediate result will be pain, swelling, and discoloration. A sprain is a wrenching or twisting injury to a ligament.
Sprains often affect the ankles, knees, or wrists.
A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, and is often caused by overuse, force, or stretching. Your child's physician makes the diagnosis with a physical examination. During the examination, the physician obtains a complete medical history of the child and asks how the injury occurred. Diagnostic procedures may also help evaluate the problem. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs.