A sprain is a stretch and/or tear of a ligament (a “rubber band” that connects two or more bones at a joint). One or more ligaments can be injured at the same time. The severity of the injury will depend on the extent of injury (whether it is partially or completely torn) and the number of ligaments involved.

A strain is an injury to either a muscle or a tendon (cords that connect muscle to bone). Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain may be a simple overstretch of the muscle or tendon, or it can be partially or completely torn.