Photo: Goldstein

While most of the time sprains occur in joints of the extremities -- for example, the ankle -- neck sprain is also common, and happens when the joint is overloaded or overstretched. Sprains are acute injuries -- they are brought on by an event such as a fall or sudden twist. They can also be brought about by repeated stress to overused joints.

It is easy to mistake a sprain with a subluxation (which is what a chiropractor would treat) because each of these injuries involve the joint, but they are not the same.

Another common confusion is when the term strain is used. While both are injuries to some part of the musculoskeletal system, sprains happen to ligaments and strains affect muscles. Also, usually, but not always, sprains occur in the neck, and strains, in the low back.