When learning massage, I could never remember the difference between a “Strain” and a “Sprain.”  The words sounded so similar.  An easy way to remember is that the word Strain has the letter “t” in it.  So, a strain is a damage to the tendon.  By process of elimination, a sprain is a damage of the ligament.  The common denominator is that both Strains and Sprains cause pain and reduce mobility.