Throughout the body ligaments, muscles and tendons support your skeletal structure. Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that connect one bone to another. A sprain is a simple stretch or tear of the ligaments. Tendons connect muscles to bones. A strain is the result of an injury to either a muscle or a tendon. The strain may be a simple stretch in your muscle or tendon, or it may be a partial or complete tear in the muscle-and-tendon combination. Sprains / Strains occur when excess shear and tensile forces are exerted on the muscular and/or ligamentous structures of the spine (ex. motor vehicle accident). Results in pain, postural changes, excessive muscle guarding, segmental hypermobility, and restricted movement.