11.5 Soft Tissue Injuries
At this point, we know that movement is essential to daily life and can only occur when several bodily components work together in harmony. However, the components that allow our body to move (e.g., muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, etc.) are vulnerable to a wide range of injuries and disorders that can inhibit movement. Movement-related pathologies refer to injuries and conditions that impair the body’s ability to move efficiently. These can arise from physical trauma, overuse, inflammation, degeneration, or structural abnormalities. The following section will explore common movement-related injuries and conditions, some of which are caused by movement or lack of or simply impact the ability to move freely.
Sprain vs Strain
One way injury can inhibit movement is through soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains. Although they sound quite similar and are often used interchangeably, sprains and strains actually differ in what type of tissue is damaged and, therefore, what therapeutic measures are required.
- Sprain: A sprain describes injury to a ligament, the type of tissue that connects bone to bone. Sprains are typically caused by a sudden impact that forces a joint outside of its normal range of motion (ROM). Sprains are most common in ankles, knees, and wrists.
- Strain: A strain describes injury to a tendon, the type of tissue that connects bone to muscle, or muscle. Strains are typically caused by overstretching or overusing an area or muscle.
Fitness Fact
Ankle Sprains, sometimes referred to as ‘rolling an ankle’, are quite common because they do not require an individual to be engaged in intense physical activity. Ankle sprains, specifically inversion of the ankle, are most common and can occur simply by taking a misstep while walking. Inversion ankle sprains are more common than eversion because of two reasons:
- The foot’s natural arch already has our weight sitting on the outer or lateral edge of the foot.
- The ligament supporting the lateral side of our ankle, the Anterior Talofibular Ligament (ATFL), is quite narrow and therefore most susceptible to injury, in comparison to the Deltoid Ligament, which supports the ankle medially.
Both sprains and strains can occur in varying degrees, known as grades ranging from 1 to 3, where the higher the grade indicates the more severe the injury.
- Grade 1: Describes stretch or small tears in the tissue
- Grade 2: Describes a partial tear of the tissue
- Grade 3: Describes a full or complete tear of the tissue
Dislocations & Subluxations
Another way movement can be impaired is through joint-related injuries like dislocations and subluxations. These conditions occur as a result of physical trauma or impact, such as falls or movement beyond normal limits. Dislocation occurs when the bones of a joint are completely out of their functional position, leading to visible deformity, pain, swelling, and inability to use the joint. While subluxations are partial dislocations, bones are misaligned but maintain some contact with the typical and functional positioning of the joint.
