What causes sprains?

You can probably name the moment a joint went wrong. Saying what that moment had in common with other sprains is harder.

One rule behind many injuries

According to Cleveland Clinic, anything that forces your joint to move too much or too far can cause a sprain.

That one rule covers a lot of everyday situations. The cause is less about the activity and more about a joint being pushed past its normal movement.

The common causes

Cleveland Clinic lists the most common causes as sports injuries, falls, and slipping and catching yourself suddenly. It also lists rolling an ankle or twisting a knee while walking, running or jumping.

The last item on the list is quieter. Cleveland Clinic includes repetitive strain injuries, meaning overusing a joint or performing a repetitive motion for work, a sport or a hobby.

For symptoms and treatment of the injury itself, read the Cleveland Clinic guide to sprains. If the pain is in your calf, the page on a torn calf muscle is the closest match.

What to try before returning to your routine

Look back over the days before the injury and match them against the list above. Was it a single moment, like a slip, or a repeated motion? A reader in Elmwood Park who can answer that gives a healthcare provider a clear starting point.

A closing note on a finished explanation

A good explanation of your injury names how the joint was forced. If the cause was a repeated motion, the plan for going back to work or sport should deal with that motion too.