Injuries happen to all of us at some point. Strains, sprains, and especially bruises are a large percentage of the problems that you may face. A good thing to remember is R.I.C.E. What does food have to do with hurting yourself you ask? Well, R.I.C.E. stands for REST, ICE, COMPRESSION, and ELEVATION. Anytime you hurt yourself, play it safe and put ice on it. It can't hurt and you could help yourself heal quicker if you did. (Just remember.....I am not a doctor so do not take my advice as if it were.)

STRAINS: A muscle strain is the same thing as a muscle pull. This pull can range from over-stretching the muscle fibers slightly to completely tearing the muscle either from itself, from the tendon, or the tendon from the bone. If you think you have actually hurt yourself, visit your doctor.

SPRAINS: A sprain is the same thing as a "twisting injury" (as in twisting your ankle.) Sprains can be catagorized from mild to severe. A severe sprain can involve cartilage damage as well as a bone fracture. A common sprain involves the three ligaments on the outside or your ankle.

BRUISES: Bruises are also called contusions. This happens when there is a direct hit of something to your body. When this happens, there is bleeding in the tissue that causes the color that you are used to seeing when you get a bruise. We all get bruises, but have you heard of a "stone bruise?" This is when you bruise the bottom of your foot (usually from landing to hard from your jumps or from practicing on a hard surface like cement/black top).