By David Elmore, Pure Matters If you've sprained your ankle, you
know what severe pain is. But maybe that "sprain" was a "strain"
or possibly even a "break." The amount of pain in each case can
be virtually equal, so oftentimes the only way to find out what
you have is to see a doctor. Just the facts Here are some facts
on musculoskeletal injuries: - Sprains are a stretch and/or tear
of a ligament, the tissue connecting two bones. Ligaments
stabilize and support the body's joints. For example, ligaments
in the knee connect the upper leg with the lower leg, enabling
people to walk and run. - Strains are a twist, pull and/or tear
of a muscle and/or tendon. Tendons are cords of tissue that
connect muscles to bones. - Breaks are a fracture, splinter or
complete break in bone, often caused by accidents, sports
injuries or bone weakness. Health care providers attend to
millions of Americans with musculoskeletal injuries each year,
according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
(AAOS). More than one in fo