A rolled ankle, a wrenched knee, a pulled muscle in the back after lifting something awkwardly. Sprains and strains are among the most common injuries there are, and while many are dismissed as minor, they have a way of lingering, nagging, and coming back if they are not allowed to heal properly. That stiffness and weakness that hangs on for weeks after the initial pain fades is often a sign the injury never fully recovered.
At Mast Health, we treat sprains and strains with an eye toward complete healing, not just getting past the first few painful days. A soft tissue injury that heals with lost motion, weakness, or altered mechanics sets you up for the next one, so our focus is on restoring the area fully. Our approach is drug free, noninvasive, and built to get you back to activity on a foundation that holds.
Not all sprains and strains are equal, and knowing the severity and exactly what was injured shapes the right course of care. We evaluate the injured area to understand how significant it is and whether it needs conservative care or a referral for imaging.
Soft tissue heals best with the right balance of protection and movement, not prolonged rest alone. Dr. Nenos guides that process, calming the injured tissue while restoring safe motion so the area heals strong rather than stiff and weak.
The biggest risk after a sprain or strain is doing it again, often because the area healed with lingering weakness or poor mechanics. We rebuild the strength, stability, and movement patterns that protect the area so you can return to activity with confidence.
Sprains and strains are often handled with rest, ice, and pain relievers, and while early care matters, stopping there frequently leaves the area stiff, weak, and prone to reinjury. Chiropractic care supports the full arc of healing, from calming the injury to restoring strength and motion. Book a visit at our N Dale Mabry clinic and let our team help you recover completely.
Many Tampa patients are surprised to learn how often a poorly healed sprain or strain leads to recurring problems down the line, sometimes in the same spot and sometimes elsewhere as the body compensates. By restoring proper motion, calming the injured tissue, and rebuilding strength, we help the area heal fully. Schedule your appointment and recover on a foundation that lasts.
Do not let a sprain or strain linger or turn into a repeat injury. We offer same day scheduling and weekend appointments for Tampa patients dealing with a fresh injury.
Though people often use the words interchangeably, a sprain and a strain are two different injuries. A sprain is an overstretch or tear of a ligament, the tough tissue that connects bone to bone and stabilizes a joint, while a strain is an overstretch or tear of a muscle or its tendon. Both happen when tissue is pushed beyond what it can handle, whether in a single sudden moment like a rolled ankle or a wrong lift, and both produce pain, swelling, and reduced function while they heal.
The critical point is what happens during recovery. Soft tissue does not simply return to normal on its own. It heals best when the area is guided through the right amount of protected movement, which helps the new tissue lay down strong and keeps the joint or muscle from stiffening and weakening. When an injury is left to heal with rest alone, it often recovers with reduced motion, lingering weakness, and altered mechanics, and that is precisely what sets the stage for the injury to return.
At Mast Health, Dr. Nenos assesses the injured area to understand its severity and what was affected, and he recognizes when a more serious injury needs imaging or a specialist. For the many sprains and strains that respond to conservative care, he guides the healing process with hands on care and a progressive plan, restoring motion, calming the tissue, and rebuilding strength so the area heals fully rather than halfway.
Sprains and strains can affect nearly any joint or muscle, and they are common in daily life, work, and sport. The injuries we most often treat in Tampa include:
One of the most common injuries of all, usually from rolling or twisting the ankle, and notorious for recurring when not fully rehabilitated.
A pulled muscle in the back, often from lifting, twisting, or a sudden movement, that can be sharply painful and slow to settle without proper care.
Muscle strains in the neck from awkward positions, sudden movements, or minor accidents that leave the area stiff and sore.
Ligament sprains from twisting or direction changes, common in active adults and weekend athletes.
Sprains from a fall onto an outstretched hand or a sudden force, affecting the ligaments that stabilize the wrist.
Pulled muscles in the legs and elsewhere from overexertion, poor warmup, or sudden effort.
Dr. Nenos treats sprains and strains with the whole recovery in mind, guiding the injured tissue from the early painful stage through to full strength. The plan is matched to the injury and its severity. Care typically includes:
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A careful evaluation of the injury followed by gentle adjustments and soft tissue work that calm the area, restore safe motion, and support healthy healing without overloading the tissue.
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Hands on techniques that ease the swelling, muscle guarding, and stiffness around the injury, improving circulation to help the tissue recover.
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A step by step program that safely rebuilds strength, stability, and range of motion, and corrects the mechanics behind the injury so the area heals strong and the risk of reinjury drops.
When you are looking for a chiropractor in Tampa, the difference is in the expertise. Dr. Nenos is not just a practicing chiropractor. He teaches chiropractic technique at the National University of Health Sciences and is one of the Tampa Bay area’s only board certified chiropractic neurologists. That means every patient receives academic level precision and a depth of diagnostic skill you will not find at a typical clinic, all from one doctor who personally treats you at every visit.
As one of the Tampa Bay area's only board certified chiropractic neurologists, Dr. Nenos brings a level of diagnostic skill that is rare in a community clinic, which sharpens how he assesses and guides your recovery.
We are in Fountain Oaks Plaza at 6800 N Dale Mabry Hwy, easy to reach from Carrollwood, Northdale, Town 'N' Country, Westchase, Lutz, and Temple Terrace.
A fresh injury should not have to wait until Monday. We are open Saturdays and Sundays and offer same day scheduling for urgent needs.
Dr. Nenos personally evaluates and treats you at every visit, from your first assessment through your last adjustment.
Have questions before booking your first visit? You are not alone. Below are answers to the questions we hear most often from new patients at Mast Health. If you do not see yours, call us at (813) 807-7463 or stop by our Tampa clinic at 6800 N Dale Mabry Hwy and we will be glad to help.
Yes. Chiropractic care supports the full arc of healing for many sprains and strains, from calming the injured tissue and restoring safe motion to rebuilding strength. This helps the area heal fully rather than stiff and weak, which is what reduces the chance of a repeat injury, often without medication.
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tissue connecting bone to bone at a joint, while a strain is an injury to a muscle or its tendon. Both come from tissue being overstretched or torn, and both cause pain, swelling, and reduced function, but knowing which one you have helps guide the right care.
Recurring problems usually mean the original injury never fully recovered. If a sprain or strain healed with lingering weakness, lost motion, or altered mechanics, the area stays vulnerable and tends to flare or reinjure. Rebuilding it properly is the key to breaking that cycle.
An inability to bear weight or use the limb, a joint that looks deformed, severe swelling, or numbness should be evaluated promptly, as these can signal a more serious injury. We assess your injury carefully and refer you for imaging or a specialist when it is warranted.
You do not have to let a sprain or strain linger for weeks or turn into an injury that keeps coming back. If a soft tissue injury is slowing you down, supporting full recovery with conservative chiropractic care may be exactly what you need. It is a natural, noninvasive way to calm the injury, restore motion, and rebuild the strength that keeps you moving.
Come see Mast Health in Tampa to get your injury assessed and a plan built for a complete recovery. Weekend appointments are available, and we are glad to welcome new patients with and without insurance.