Sprains and strains are common, minor injuries that affect the muscles and ligaments around the joints. They often occur if a person falls or lands awkwardly, and they are common during sports, especially if the person over reaches, suddenly changes their direction or speed, or collides with something €“ or someone! Sprains occur when one or more of the ligaments supporting a joint gets stretched, twisted or torn.

Sprains commonly affect the knees, ankles, wrists and thumbs, with symptoms including pain, swelling, bruising and tenderness. The person may not be able to use, or put weight on, the affected joint. Strains occur when fibres in the muscle stretch or tear, most commonly in the hamstring muscles or lower back.

Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, muscle spasms and difficulty using the affected muscle. To help reduce the risk of sprains and strains, it's important to warm up before exercise, and to stretch (cool down) afterwards. Wearing the correct footwear and equipment for the activity is also important, as is resting when the body feels fatigued.

While most sprains and strains heal in time, refer to the pharmacist anyone who:

• Is in severe pain, or is unable to move or put weight on the affected joint
• Reports numbness, discolouration or coldness in the injured area
• Has an injury where the affected area looks crooked or has any unusual lumps, other than swelling
• Has unsuccessfully tried several treatments.