Soccer slide gone wrong. Playground wipeout. Backyard trampoline disaster. Kids are basically professional stunt performers — and sometimes those stunts don’t stick the landing.

Now something’s swollen. Your child is limping. But is it a strain or a sprain — and does it even matter?

Spoiler: Yes, it does.

The 30-Second Breakdown

Sprain = ligament injury. Ligaments connect bone to bone. Sprains happen at joints — ankles, wrists, knees. The classic rolled ankle? That’s a sprain.

Strain = muscle or tendon injury. Tendons connect muscle to bone. Strains often hit the back, legs, or shoulders — usually from overstretching or sudden movements.

When to Bring Them In

Swelling that won’t quit. Bruising. They can’t put weight on it. Or they’re guarding the area like it’s their favorite toy. These are signs to get it checked — because a bad sprain can feel exactly like a fracture.

At Night Watch Manassas, we have on-site X-rays, so you’ll leave with answers — not a referral and more waiting. Let us help get them back to doing what kids do best: everything at full speed.