What is the difference between a muscle strain and a ligament sprain?
Disease description:
After falling, my lower leg became red and swollen. I'm not sure whether it's a muscle strain or a ligament/tendon strain. I'd like to know the difference between a muscle strain and a ligament/tendon strain.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Muscle strain refers to damage of muscle fibers in the muscle and skin areas, while tendon strain primarily involves injury to tendons. Such injuries can affect the functional movement of joints; the more severe the tendon strain, the greater the impact on joint function later on. The term "tendon" (or "sinew") is broadly defined and generally includes all soft tissues except bones, such as muscles or ligaments. In traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis, muscle strain may also be referred to as tendon strain. The management principles for muscle strain and tendon strain are essentially the same.
