How do overuse injuries and a sprain or strain differ?
Strains and sprains are the result of acute trauma, whereas overuse injuries are the result of a chronic microtrauma. Overuse injuries occur in the setting of repetitive microtrauma to bones, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues when there is failure to allow the body time to recover from a sporting activity. They most commonly present as tendonosis, tendonitis, or stress fractures and rarely require surgery. Microscopically, local tissue breakdown occurs with tissue lysis, lymphocytic infiltration, and blood extravasation.
