What is going on
A sprain is an injury to a ligament — the tissue connecting bone to bone — most often at the ankle, knee or wrist. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, common in the hamstring, calf or low back. Both usually come from a fall, a sudden twist, or a load the tissue was not ready for.
Typical descriptions include:
- Sudden pain at the time of the fall, twist or lift
- Swelling or bruising around the injured area
- Pain with specific movements more than others
- Stiffness that sets in over the following day
How massage therapy is commonly used
We can usually start treating a sprain or strain from the acute phase, rather than waiting for it to settle. Early sessions focus on the muscles compensating for the injury and the muscles supporting the injured area, not on the injury site itself, and treatment can also support blood flow to the area, which helps the healing process along.
As healing progresses, treatment shifts toward the muscles that have been compensating around the injury, early scar tissue as it forms, and restoring comfortable movement. IASTM is often used as part of this care. This is supportive care alongside recovery, not a substitute for the injury healing on its own timeline.
What a session looks like
Your therapist asks how the injury happened, what movements are still limited, and what a doctor or physiotherapist has already told you. Work stays gentle directly over a recently injured ligament or muscle and focuses more on the surrounding and compensating tissue, progressing as healing allows.
Sessions for a fresh injury usually start at 30 minutes. Most patients stay in the 30- to 45-minute range for the course of care, extending the time as the injury heals and more can be done.
What to expect over a course of care
Mild sprains and strains often improve over two to six weeks with one or two appointments a week early on. More significant injuries take longer, and we coordinate with a physician or physiotherapist where one is already involved.