Sprain and Strain
Sprains & Strains Urgent Care in Kansas City
Expert Sprain Treatment Without an Appointment
A rolled ankle on the court, an awkward movement at work, or overexertion during exercise can result in an unexpected injury. Sprains and strains are common soft tissue injuries that can cause pain, swelling, weakness, and difficulty using the affected area normally.
When symptoms need prompt attention, Orthopedic Health of Kansas City offers walk-in orthopedic urgent care for sprains, strains, and other musculoskeletal injuries. No appointment is required
Is It a Sprain or a Strain?
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, sprains and strains affect different tissues. A sprain involves a ligament, which connects one bone to another. Strains affect muscles or tendons, the tissues connecting muscles to bones.
These injuries can affect several areas of the body, including the ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders, and back.
Symptoms that may indicate a sprain or strain include:
- Pain following an awkward movement or injury
- Swelling around the injured area
- Bruising or tenderness
- Muscle weakness or spasms
- Reduced flexibility or range of motion
- Difficulty walking or bearing weight
- Pain when moving or using the injured area
- A feeling of instability around a joint
Because fractures and other orthopedic injuries can sometimes cause similar symptoms, an evaluation can help determine the nature of your injury.
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Walk-In Orthopedic Care for Sprains and Strains
Rather than starting at a clinic that treats everything from respiratory illnesses to minor injuries, orthopedic urgent care is centered specifically around bone, joint, muscle, tendon, and ligament concerns.
The Orthopedic Health of Kansas City Urgent Care team can assess how your injury occurred, examine the affected area, and determine the appropriate next steps for treatment or follow-up care.
With walk-in orthopedic urgent care available in North Kansas City, Independence, Missouri, and Lenexa, Kansas, patients have convenient access to specialized orthopedic care without needing an appointment.
Sprains & Strains Urgent Care FAQs
What causes sprains and strains?
Sprains and strains can occur during sports, exercise, work, falls, repetitive activities, or sudden movements. Twisting a joint, overstretching a muscle, or placing unexpected force on an area can damage ligaments, muscles, or tendons.
When should I seek urgent care for a sprain or strain?
Consider an orthopedic evaluation if an injury causes substantial swelling, bruising, limited movement, persistent pain, joint instability, or difficulty putting weight on the affected area. Symptoms that become worse instead of improving should also be assessed.
How can I tell whether I have a sprain, strain, or fracture?
It can be difficult to distinguish between these injuries based on symptoms alone. Pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving can occur with both soft tissue injuries and fractures. An orthopedic evaluation can help identify what type of injury has occurred and guide appropriate care.
Is orthopedic urgent care better suited for sprains and strains than general urgent care?
Orthopedic urgent care specializes in musculoskeletal injuries. While a general urgent care treats illnesses and a broad range of medical concerns, orthopedic urgent care focuses on bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This provides patients with access to a team whose care is centered specifically on orthopedic conditions.
Should I go to orthopedic urgent care or the ER for a sprain or strain?
Many non-life-threatening sprains, strains, and related orthopedic injuries can be evaluated at orthopedic urgent care. Severe trauma, significant bleeding, an open fracture, loss of sensation or circulation, or other potentially life-threatening symptoms require emergency medical care.
Where can I get walk-in treatment for sprains and strains in Kansas City?
Orthopedic Health of Kansas City provides walk-in orthopedic urgent care in North Kansas City, Independence, Missouri, and Lenexa, Kansas. Patients with sprains, strains, sports injuries, and other acute orthopedic concerns can visit during urgent care hours without making an appointment.
