An acute twisting or overextension of a joint can lead to tears of muscles and tendons, called “strains,” and tears of ligaments result in “sprains.” These tears range from mild to severe.
In mild injuries, just a few fibers are torn or stretched. Severe injuries, where there is a tear through the fill thickness of the structure, frequently require surgical intervention.
The intervertebral disc, a ligament between the vertebrae of the spine that works as a shock absorber, can also be torn, resulting in a disc bulge and/or herniation.
Source: Copied from ACAnews – August 2010, article by Lawrence H. Wyatt, DC, DACBR, FICC