When diagnosing a strain or sprain, your GP will ask about how you injured yourself and will perform a physical examination. In severe cases, an X-ray may be needed.
Your GP will want to know about treatments you have already tried, as well as any medication you are currently taking that could affect the injury, such as anticoagulants (blood-thinning medication).
The affected joint or muscle will be examined to assess how severe your injury is. Your GP will check for:
- pain, discomfort and tenderness in the injured area
- swelling and inflammation
- any lumps and bumps not usually present
- bruising or bleeding in the joint or muscle
They will also assess:
- how much you can move the injured joint or muscle
- whether you are able to put your weight on it
If you have a severe sprain, your GP may check whether the ligaments are loose. This is sometimes called joint instability, mechanical instability or ligamentous laxity.
X-rays
Most people with sprains and strains do not need to have X-rays. However, your GP may recommend an X-ray if:
- you are unable to put any weight on your ankle, foot or leg
- there is tenderness of the bones at specific points on your ankle, foot or leg
- you have difficulty moving your knee
Your GP may also recommend an X-ray if you are over 55 years of age, and have an acute knee injury (see below). The reason for this is that people over the age of 55 have a higher risk of developing a fracture after this type of injury.
An acute knee injury is where the knee joint receives a sudden blow, or is damaged in some other way, such as being suddenly twisted out of position.