Sprains are injuries in the soft tissue around joints; strains are tears in muscles; and bruises are broken blood vessels under the skin. They are all ‘soft tissue injuries’.
Pain and tenderness: The person has pain or tenderness around the injury
Difficulty moving: The person finds it difficult to move or to put weight on the injured area
Swelling: The person has swelling around the injury
Discoloured skin where bruises are forming: The person’s skin is beginning to change colour from a bruise
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation