Is it a sprain or a strain?

With the start of football season right around the corner, many injuries are sure to follow. Two terms that are commonly used incorrectly by broadcasters and the media are "sprain" and "strain." These terms are often used interchangeably, but are not the same thing. When an athlete has a ligamentous injury, this is referred to as a "sprain". A "sprain" would indicate stretching or tearing of a ligament. Probably the most commonly sprained ligament among football players would be the medical collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee. When an athlete has a muscle or tendon injury, this is referred to as a "strain", which would indicate tearing or stretching of the muscle/tendon. The most common muscle strain would be the hamstrings, which is a group of three muscles located on the posterior aspect of the thigh. I'll focus on the reason why the hamstrings are so commonly strained in a later blog. So, when your watching football over the next few months, and the announcer states a player is out with a strained MCL, you will know he/she is incorrect!