The word "sprain" is spelled with an "s" and not a "c" because it comes from the Old French word "espraindre." The "s" is pronounced as /s/ which represents a voiceless alveolar fricative sound. The "pr" is pronounced as /pr/ which represents a voiceless bilabial stop followed by an alveolar trill. The vowel sound in the word is pronounced as /eɪ/ which represents a diphthong. The final sound is pronounced as /n/ which represents a voiced alveolar nasal sound.
Sprain is a commonly used medical term that refers to an injury or damage to the ligaments, the tough and fibrous connective tissues that connect bones at a joint. It specifically occurs when there is overstretching, tearing, or twisting of the ligament beyond its normal range of motion, causing pain and swelling in the affected area. Sprains are most frequently observed in the ankle joint but can also occur in other joints such as the wrist, knee, or thumb.
The severity of a sprain can range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of damage to the ligament. Mild sprains involve minimal tearing and stretching of the ligament, resulting in mild pain, slight swelling, and little disruption in the joint's stability and function. However, severe sprains involve significant ligament tearing, causing intense pain, extensive swelling, joint instability, and potential bruising.
Common causes of sprains include sudden or forceful twisting or wrenching movements, falls, accidents, or sports-related activities. Symptoms of a sprain typically include pain, tenderness, swelling, difficulty in moving the joint, and sometimes bruising at the affected site.
Treatment for sprains usually involves the PRICE technique, which stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Protecting the injured area with a splint or brace, resting the joint to allow proper healing, applying ice to reduce swelling, compressing the area with a bandage, and elevating the injured limb are all crucial aspects of managing a sprain. Moderate to severe sprains may require medical assistance, including physical therapy, pain medication, or, in extreme cases, surgical intervention to repair the damaged ligament.
1. An injury to a joint, with possible rupture of some of the ligaments or tendons, but without dislocation or fracture. 2. To cause a sprain of a joint.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• An excessive strain of the muscles or ligaments of a joint, causing much pain.
• To overstrain the ligaments of a joint without dislocation.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sprain" originates from Middle English and has its roots in Old French. It can be traced back to the Old French verb "espreindre", meaning "to press out or squeeze". This verb eventually evolved into the Middle English noun "spreynt" which referred to a violent twist or wrenching of a joint. Over time, the spelling shifted, and it became "sprain" in Modern English.