One minute they’re fine. The next, they’re crying and clutching their ankle. Welcome to parenthood — where every day is a new adventure in “what just happened?“

So is it a strain or a sprain? And when should you actually worry?

Let’s break it down.

The 30-Second Breakdown

Sprain = ligament injury. Ligaments connect bone to bone. Sprains happen at joints like ankles, wrists, and knees. That awkward tumble off the monkey bars? Probably a sprain.

Strain = muscle or tendon injury. Tendons connect muscle to bone. Strains usually hit the back, legs, or shoulders — from stretching too far or moving too fast.

When to Bring Them In

Lots of swelling. Bruising. They won’t walk on it — or even let you touch it. These are signs to get it looked at. Severe sprains can be tricky to tell apart from fractures, and kids aren’t always great at describing what hurts.

That’s where we come in. Night Watch Winchester has on-site X-rays, Pediatric experts, and will get you answers before bedtime. Because the sooner we figure it out, the sooner they’re back to bouncing off the walls!