Pathophysiology of Sprains and Other Soft-Tissue Injuries Sprains and strains Tears in ligaments or muscles may be graded as 1st degree: Minimal (fibers are stretched but intact, or only a few fibers are torn) 2nd degree: Partial (some to almost all fibers are torn) 3rd degree: Complete (all fibers are torn) Tendon injuries Tendon tears can be partial or complete.