What is the most common cause of sprains?

Sprains are primarily caused by the twisting or rolling of a joint, which leads to the ligaments—the connective tissues that stabilize joints—being stretched or torn. This type of movement frequently occurs in sports and physical activities when an athlete may land awkwardly, pivot suddenly, or even stumble while running. The force applied to the joint during these actions can exceed the capacity of the ligaments, resulting in a sprain.

While the other factors such as improper warm-up, overtraining, and inadequate hydration can directly contribute to an athlete's overall performance and susceptibility to injuries, they are not the most immediate causes of sprains themselves. For example, while failing to warm up properly might increase the risk of injury, it is the actual twisting motion of a joint during activity that directly leads to a sprain. Thus, the mechanism of injury—in this case, the twisting or rolling of a joint—is the most accurate and common explanation for why sprains occur.