A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tissue that connects one bone to another at the joints. A strain, commonly called a pulled muscle, is an injury to the muscle and tendon unit. Tendons connect muscle to bone. With proper treatment, a pulled muscle usually heals quickly. A sprain also responds to the RICE treatment, but sprains are more serious than strains and often require medical treatment.
Sprains take more time to heal and sometimes require that one wear a cast or use crutches.
Her column appears on Wednesdays.