1. Skeletal Muscle Creates Movement
Skeletal muscle is the muscle tissue that allows you to produce movement to perform a multitude of everyday activities. It contracts voluntarily, meaning you tell the muscle to contract through the connection from your brain to your muscles. In addition to skeletal muscle, you have smooth muscle, but this type of muscle contracts involuntarily to regulate specific functions of your digestive system, blood vessels, airways and bladder. There is also a third type of muscle, cardiac muscle, which is found in your heart and also contracts involuntarily.
2. A Ligament Connects Bone to Bone
A ligament is a type of fibrous tissue that connects bone to other bone. Ligaments provide stability to joints by preventing excessive motion. Ligaments do have elastic qualities, however, and will lengthen when placed under tension. The term "ligament" is often used interchangeably with "tendon," but this interchange is incorrect. A tendon does not connect bone to bone; instead, tendons connect muscle to bone.
3. A Muscle Is Strained, A Ligament Is Sprained
A strain occurs when muscle fibers are overstretched, pulled or torn. They commonly occur during physical activity or sports, yet this injury can occur in non-athletes as well. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness and/or bruising. A sprain occurs after overstretching, pulling or tearing of ligament tissue. Ligament sprains are graded in increasing degrees of severity: Grade I, Grade II and Grade III. A Grade I sprain is characterized by stretching of the ligament. A Grade II sprain is worse than a Grade I and includes partial tearing of the ligament. A complete tear of the ligament is considered a Grade III sprain.
4. Torn Ligaments Can Result in Instability
Since ligaments connect bone to bone to promote joint stability, a torn ligament may result in an unstable joint, excessive joint motion and injury. Signs and symptoms of torn ligaments include immediate swelling, pain, and the feeling of "giving way" if the injury occurs in a weight-bearing joint. If your joint moves excessively, the cartilage or bone may become worn down, leading to pain and discomfort. In serious cases, you can develop osteoarthritis as a result of this wear and tear. Ligaments can usually be repaired through surgery, but the recovery can take many weeks or months, and scar tissue may limit your ability to recover fully.
5. Healing Takes Time
Muscle strains and ligament sprains can often be treated conservatively, or without surgery. In general, unless there is a complete tear of the muscle or ligament, the tissue will ultimately heal. Your body's initial response includes inflammation, swelling and pain. Mild injuries can be treated with rest and anti-inflammation techniques, while mild to moderate cases may require treatment by a physical therapist. The extent of treatment will be based on your desired level of return to activity.
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