Understanding Sprains and Strains — and How Chiropractic Care Can Help Naturally
Sprains and strains are among the most common soft-tissue injuries in adults, affecting ligaments, muscles, and tendons throughout the body. Whether they happen suddenly during sports or develop gradually from overuse or poor posture at work, these injuries can lead to persistent pain, stiffness, weakness, and limited range of motion. Even “minor” sprains and strains can linger for weeks or months if the underlying dysfunction is never fully addressed.
What many people don’t realize is that sprains and strains are not just local tissue problems — they are also a nervous system issue. When a joint is injured or a muscle is overstretched, the spinal and peripheral nerves that coordinate those tissues can become irritated or overloaded. This disrupts normal communication between the brain and body, often resulting in muscle guarding, compensatory movement patterns, and slower healing.
Neurologically based chiropractic care focuses on restoring healthy spinal alignment and improving brain-body communication so your body can coordinate healing more effectively. At Vita Nova Chiropractic, we provide gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments and neurologically focused care to help adults in Plano, Murphy, and Richardson, TX find natural relief for sprains and strains, support tissue repair, and regain confident movement.
Our team at Vita Nova Chiropractic utilizes a neurologically based approach, including advanced techniques such as the Zone Technique, to address the root causes of your sprains and strains rather than just masking symptoms.
What Causes Sprains and Strains?
Sprains and strains develop when the soft tissues are stressed beyond their normal capacity. A sprain involves overstretching or tearing of a ligament (the tissue that connects bone to bone), while a strain affects muscles or tendons. These injuries can be sudden, such as rolling an ankle, or gradual, from repetitive stress, poor mechanics, or underlying spinal misalignments that change how the body bears weight and moves.
Repetitive Stress and Overuse
Daily activities like running, lifting, or even prolonged computer work can overload certain muscles and joints. Repeating the same movement with poor mechanics or insufficient recovery can lead to microtears and eventually a more significant sprain or strain.
Poor Posture and Workplace Ergonomics
Sitting for long periods, hunching over devices, or standing with uneven weight distribution places chronic stress on ligaments and muscles. Over time, this can weaken supportive tissues in the neck, shoulders, low back, and legs, increasing the risk of sprains and strains.
Spinal Misalignments and Subluxations
When the spine is misaligned, known as a subluxation, it can alter body mechanics and loading patterns. This increases strain on joints, ligaments, and muscles, especially around the hips, knees, ankles, and shoulders. At Vita Nova Chiropractic, we focus on correcting these subluxations so that your body can move more efficiently and with less stress.
Weakness, Instability, and Previous Injuries
Old injuries that never fully healed can create instability and muscle imbalances. This makes it easier to roll an ankle, tweak your back, or pull a hamstring. Without addressing the root neurological and structural issues, sprains and strains can become recurring problems.
Inflammation and Reduced Mobility
Systemic or local inflammation can stiffen tissues and reduce flexibility, making ligaments and muscles more susceptible to injury. Limited joint mobility—often related to spinal or extremity joint restrictions—can force other areas to compensate and become overloaded.
Sports, Exercise, and Sudden Force
Quick changes of direction, jumping, or contact in sports can stretch tissues beyond their limits. While activity is healthy, improper warm-up, poor technique, or uncorrected spinal misalignments can make a routine play turn into a painful sprain or strain.
Common Symptoms of Sprains and Strains
While symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the injury, many people experiencing sprains and strains pain report a similar pattern. Recognizing these symptoms early can help you seek care before compensation and chronic issues take hold.
- Sharp or aching pain in the affected joint or muscle
- Swelling, warmth, or visible bruising around the area
- Stiffness and reduced range of motion
- Muscle spasms or cramping
- Weakness or a feeling of instability (“giving way”)
- Pain with weight-bearing, lifting, or specific movements
- Tenderness to touch in muscles, ligaments, or tendons
- Difficulty performing normal daily activities or exercise
- Compensation pain in other regions (e.g., hip pain after an ankle sprain)
How Chiropractic Care Helps With Sprains and Strains
Chiropractic care for sprains and strains is centered on improving the health of your spine, joints, and nervous system so your body can heal more effectively. When vertebrae or other joints become misaligned, they can create subluxations—areas where the joint is not moving properly and is placing abnormal stress on the surrounding nerves and tissues.
Subluxations can cause nerve interference, reducing the quality of communication between your brain and the injured area. This can disrupt muscle coordination, joint stability, and the body’s ability to control inflammation and repair damaged tissue.
With neurologically based chiropractic care, we focus on locating and correcting these subluxations with gentle, specific adjustments. By restoring proper motion and alignment, we help improve nervous system communication and reduce mechanical stress on ligaments and muscles. This often results in decreased pain, improved mobility, and better long-term tissue function.
At Vita Nova Chiropractic, we also integrate the Zone Technique to analyze which functional “zones” of the nervous system are most imbalanced and prioritize adjustments that support whole-body healing, including recovery from sprains and strains in areas such as the ankles, knees, shoulders, and spine.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Sprains and Strains
- Reduced pain and muscle tension without relying solely on medications
- Improved joint mobility and range of motion in the injured area
- Enhanced stability and coordination through better nerve signaling
- Decreased inflammation and swelling via improved circulation and movement
- Faster recovery times and support for proper soft-tissue healing
- Reduced likelihood of re-injury through better alignment and biomechanics
- Whole-body improvements in posture and movement patterns
- Support for athletic performance and safer return to activity
- Natural, drug-free approach that works alongside medical or rehab care
The Brain-Body Connection — Why Sprains and Strains Affect More Than Pain
Your brain and nervous system constantly monitor joint position, muscle tension, and balance. When you experience a sprain or strain, the sensory signals from that area change dramatically. The brain may respond by tightening nearby muscles, altering your gait, or limiting movement to protect the injured area. While protective at first, these patterns can become ingrained and contribute to chronic pain, stiffness, and fatigue.
Neurologically based chiropractic care helps “reset” these patterns by improving how the spine and nervous system are functioning. Gentle adjustments send new, healthy input to the brain, which can help normalize muscle tone, relax guarding, and promote more balanced movement. This is one reason people often notice improvements not only in their injured area, but also in sleep, energy, and overall well-being after chiropractic care—even when the original visit was for sprains and strains treatment.
How Subluxations Contribute to Sprains and Strains
Subluxations are areas of spinal or joint misalignment and restricted motion that interfere with normal nerve function. When present, they can subtly change how force is transmitted through your body. For example, a subluxation in the lower back or pelvis can alter hip and knee mechanics, increasing stress on the ankle and making an ankle sprain more likely. Similarly, neck or upper back subluxations can affect shoulder stability and increase the risk of strains in the rotator cuff or upper back muscles.
Uncorrected subluxations may lead to:
- Chronic muscle tightness and trigger points around the affected region
- Decreased joint stability and a higher risk of recurring sprains and strains
- Compensatory movement patterns that overload other joints and tissues
- Slower healing due to impaired nerve supply and blood flow to injured tissues
- Progressive wear and tear, contributing to long-term joint degeneration
By identifying and correcting these subluxations, chiropractic care helps restore balanced biomechanics and nervous system function, which is essential for long-lasting relief from sprains and strains pain.
Scientific Evidence Supporting Chiropractic and Sprains and Strains Relief
Management of Ankle Sprains: Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline (2019)
This guideline review highlights that manual therapy—including joint mobilization, manipulation, and soft tissue techniques—can improve range of motion, reduce pain, and restore function in acute and chronic ankle sprains. Manual therapy is recommended as part of evidence-based conservative management.
Spinal and Extremity Manipulation for Lower Extremity Conditions: Systematic Review (2013)
A systematic review demonstrating that manipulation of both the spine and extremity joints can reduce pain and improve function in patients with sprain/strain injuries, especially ankle inversion sprains. Chiropractic-style manipulative therapy was associated with faster improvements than standard care alone.
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy for Musculoskeletal Strain Injuries: Meta-Analysis (2017)
This meta-analysis found that soft tissue mobilization and myofascial techniques significantly reduce pain and improve short-term function in soft-tissue strain injuries. While not chiropractic-specific, these therapies overlap heavily with what chiropractors provide in conservative care plans.
Chiropractic Management of Shoulder and Spinal Strain Injuries: Case Series (2011)
This case series documents improvements in pain, mobility, and functional performance after chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy for shoulder and spinal strain injuries. While not generalizable to all cases, it demonstrates real-world patient outcomes in conservative care settings.
Our Approach at Vita Nova Chiropractic
Comprehensive Consultation
We begin with a detailed conversation about your health history, how your sprain or strain occurred, your daily activities, and previous injuries. This helps us understand not just where you hurt, but why your body is vulnerable in that area. We also discuss your goals—whether that’s walking without pain, returning to sports, or simply being more active with your family in Plano, Murphy, or Richardson.
Neurological & Spinal Assessment
Next, we perform a thorough spinal and neurological evaluation to identify subluxations, postural imbalances, and movement restrictions. We may assess balance, range of motion, muscle tension, and specific orthopedic tests related to your sprains and strains. This allows us to create a personalized plan focused on restoring proper nervous system function and biomechanics.
Gentle, Targeted Adjustments
Using precise, gentle chiropractic adjustments, we work to correct subluxations in the spine and related joints. Our neurologically based approach, which can include the Zone Technique, is designed to be comfortable and effective for adults of all ages. By improving alignment and motion, we help decrease stress on ligaments and muscles and support natural healing of sprains and strains.
Ongoing Support & Progress Tracking
As your body adapts and heals, we regularly reassess your function, pain levels, and mobility. We may provide recommendations on posture, stretching, and lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of future injuries. Our goal is not just short-term relief, but long-term resilience so you can move with confidence in your daily life.
Why Choose Vita Nova Chiropractic?
- Neurologically based chiropractic care focused on the root causes of sprains and strains
- Gentle, specific adjustments tailored to your comfort and needs
- Experience helping active adults, weekend warriors, and desk workers in Plano, Murphy, and Richardson, TX
- Whole-body approach that addresses posture, movement patterns, and nervous system function
- Integration of advanced methods such as the Zone Technique for comprehensive nervous system balancing
- Clear communication and education so you understand your care every step of the way
- Supportive, family-friendly office environment
- Collaborative approach that can complement medical, physical therapy, or rehab care
Frequently Asked Questions — Sprains and Strains & Chiropractic Care
Can chiropractic help if my sprain or strain happened a long time ago?
Yes. Even when the initial injury is old, many people are left with lingering stiffness, weakness, or compensatory patterns that can be improved. Chiropractic care works to restore proper alignment and nerve function, which can help normalize movement and reduce chronic pain. Addressing these underlying issues may also decrease your risk of re-injury in the future.
Is chiropractic safe for acute sprains and strains?
In most cases, chiropractic is a safe, gentle option even in the early stages of a sprain or strain, as long as serious injuries (such as fractures) have been ruled out. We tailor our approach to your condition, often starting with very gentle techniques around the affected area. As swelling and pain decrease, more direct work may be incorporated to restore full motion and function.
Will I need X-rays for a sprain or strain?
Not always. X-rays are recommended based on your history, symptoms, and examination findings. For many soft-tissue sprains and strains, a detailed neurological and orthopedic assessment provides enough information to begin care safely. If we suspect a more serious injury or need additional clarity, we will discuss imaging options with you.
How long does it take to see improvement?
Recovery time depends on the severity of your sprain or strain, your overall health, and how long the problem has been present. Some patients notice changes in pain or mobility within a few visits, while others with more chronic issues may progress more gradually. Our goal is to create a plan that supports both short-term relief and long-term stability.
Can chiropractic care prevent future sprains and strains?
By improving spinal alignment, joint mobility, and nervous system function, chiropractic care can enhance balance, coordination, and body awareness. This often leads to better movement patterns and stability, which can reduce your risk of future sprains and strains. We may also provide guidance on posture, ergonomics, and activity modifications to help protect your body during work and exercise.
Ready to Get Relief From Your Sprains and Strains?
If you’re dealing with ongoing sprains and strains pain, you don’t have to settle for masking the symptoms or waiting for it to “just go away.” Neurologically based chiropractic care at Vita Nova Chiropractic offers a natural, holistic path to improved function and healing.
Call us today at (214) 380-5387 to schedule your evaluation and find out how our customized approach can support your recovery from sprains and strains in Plano, Murphy, and Richardson, TX.
Disclaimer
We do not diagnose or treat conditions, diseases, or symptoms. Our care is centered on improving the neuromusculoskeletal system by addressing spinal subluxations and the subluxation complex. Any improvement in overall health or function is the natural result of restoring proper spinal alignment and supporting the body’s innate ability to heal itself. For medical diagnosis or treatment, please consult a licensed medical professional.
