Muscle Sprains & Strains Treatment in Chapin, SC
A sprain and a strain are not the same injury, even though people often use the words to mean the same thing. A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, the tissue that connects one bone to another. A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Family Practice of Chiropractic treats both in Chapin, SC, starting with a full evaluation to find out exactly which one you are dealing with and how serious it is before recommending any treatment.
Common causes
Ankles, knees, wrists, and the lower back.
Red flags
Significant swelling, bruising, joint instability, or pain that limits movement.
First visit
A full evaluation of the injury and your overall movement before treatment starts.
Coverage
Most major insurance plans accepted, call to check yours.
What Causes a Sprain or a Strain
Sprains and strains are soft-tissue injuries, but they affect different structures: a sprain involves a ligament that connects bones at a joint, while a strain affects a muscle or tendon. Sprains commonly happen when a joint is suddenly twisted, struck, or forced beyond its normal range of motion, often causing pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty using the affected joint. Strains can occur suddenly from lifting, overstretching, or forceful movement, or develop gradually from repetitive use, with symptoms such as muscle pain, tenderness, stiffness, weakness, or spasms.
These injuries can happen during sports, exercise, work, falls, or everyday movements that place more stress on the tissue than it can tolerate. Ankles, knees, and wrists are common locations for sprains, while muscle strains frequently affect areas such as the back and legs. The severity of the injury and structures involved help determine what type of muscle strain treatment, rehabilitation, or other care may be appropriate.
When Should You See a Chiropractor for a Sprain or Strain?
Mild soreness after activity often eases up within a day or two on its own. See a chiropractor if the pain sticks around longer than that, if you notice real swelling or bruising, if a joint feels unstable, or if you cannot put weight on it or move it normally. Waiting on an injury like this tends to let the body compensate in ways that create a second problem on top of the first one.
How We Treat Sprains and Strains
Treatment depends on what your evaluation finds and how the injury is affecting your movement. Dr. Henning may recommend:
Chiropractic Adjustments to realign a joint that shifted out of place and ease the muscle tension the injury left behind
Sports Chiropractic Care for athletes working through a sprain or strain who want a recovery plan built around getting back to their sport
Massage Therapy, done in house by our licensed massage therapist, to loosen the muscles that tighten up around an injury
Muscle Stimulation (E-Stim) to reduce swelling and soreness in the days right after an injury
Cold Laser Therapy to calm inflammation and support the tissue’s own healing process
Serving Chapin, SC and the Surrounding Area
Family Practice of Chiropractic treats sprains and strains for patients across Chapin and the nearby Lake Murray area, including weekend athletes and anyone hurt on the job or at home. Dr. Jackson T. Henning took over the practice in 2020 after training under founding doctor Dr. Jim Minico, who opened it in 2003. Call (803) 932-9399 to schedule your evaluation.
What Our Patients Say
Patients come to Family Practice of Chiropractic for one specific pain and often stay for ongoing wellness care once they see what a plan built around a real evaluation actually feels like. Ask us how we can help with what you are dealing with.
Frequently Asked
Questions
See a chiropractor if the pain lasts more than a day or two, if you notice real swelling or bruising, or if the joint feels loose or unstable. Trouble putting weight on it or moving it normally is also a sign it needs a real evaluation instead of just rest.
A sprain is damage to a ligament, the tissue connecting two bones, usually from a twist, fall, or hard impact. A strain is damage to a muscle or tendon, usually from overuse or lifting something the wrong way. The two get treated differently once your evaluation shows which one you have.
A mild one sometimes does, but an untreated sprain or strain often leaves the joint or muscle slightly out of alignment even after the initial pain fades. That can lead to a second injury down the road or a joint that never quite feels as stable as it did before.
Athletes put more repeated stress on the same joints and muscles, which raises the odds of a sudden twist or overuse injury compared to someone who is less active. That is also why sports chiropractic care focuses as much on preventing the next injury as treating the current one.
Yes, and it is one of the more overlooked parts of recovery. The swelling going down does not mean the ligament is fully healed or that the muscles around it have regained their normal strength, so a joint can feel wobbly or weak long after it stops looking injured.
In most cases, yes. Family Practice of Chiropractic works with most major insurance plans, along with workers compensation and auto accident claims when the injury happened on the job or in a crash. Our front desk checks your specific benefits before your first visit.
Get Back to Full Strength, Not Just Back on Your Feet
A sprain or strain that never gets a real evaluation has a way of turning into a nagging weak spot that flares up again and again. Dr. Henning checks exactly what is hurt and how it is affecting the rest of your movement, then builds a recovery plan around that instead of a generic rest and ice routine. Call the Chapin office or request an appointment online to get your injury looked at the right way.