What you need to know

Have you been knocked off your feet playing sport? Or left aching after straining yourself at work or home? You’re not alone, millions of people every year injure themselves playing sport, or whilst going about their day-to-day tasks at work or at home. Discover more about muscular pains and how to survive them:

What is a strain or sprain?

A strain is when a muscle, tendon or ligament has been overstretched or overused. An injury is known as a sprain when the muscle, tendon or ligament is stretched even more severely.

How should you treat a sprain or strain?

For strains or sprains, like sports injuries, use the RICE principle:

It’s never wise to make a strained muscle work

Rest through the pain. So, if you can, put your feet up.

Ice
Grab yourself a bag of frozen peas or a freezing spray. Then apply it every few hours to the injury for 2-3 days. This helps to reduce swelling.

Compress
Give your injury extra support by compressing the affected area with a bandage.

Elevate
Keep the injury elevated to help drain off the fluid that causes swelling.

You might also want to consider taking a painkiller that contains ibuprofen – the active ingredient common to all Nurofen analgesics – because it can help ease pain and reduce swelling.

When should you see a doctor?

Please see a doctor if you’re in lots of pain, a muscle or joint is very swollen, or your movement is severely restricted. For more information, please contact: NHS Direct. Nurofen is not responsible for content on external websites. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health matters please contact your doctor.