Fall Sports Sprain or Strain? Get Assessed Online in Ontario

Fall is when rolled ankles and pulled hamstrings pile up: soccer playoffs, hockey tryouts, cross-country, and the first cold-weather runs on bodies that spent August on a dock. Most of these are sprains (stretched or torn ligaments) or strains (muscle or tendon), and in Ontario sprains and strains are a minor ailment a pharmacist can assess and prescribe for online - no walk-in wait.

Can a pharmacist prescribe for this?

A licensed Ontario pharmacist reviews how the injury happened, where it hurts, how much weight you can put on it and what you have tried. When it is clinically appropriate they can prescribe treatment for pain and inflammation, and will set out a recovery plan. A prescription is never guaranteed - often the right answer is self-care, an over-the-counter option, or a referral for imaging or physiotherapy.

The first 48 hours

Rest the joint, use ice for 15-20 minutes a few times a day, wrap it with a snug (not tight) bandage and keep it elevated. Start gentle movement as pain allows rather than immobilising it for a week - stiff joints recover slowly.

When to see a doctor instead

Get in-person care if you cannot bear weight or use the limb at all, if the joint looks deformed or you heard a crack at the time, if there is numbness, pins and needles, or a cold or pale limb, if swelling is severe and immediate, or if there is no improvement after about a week. Suspected fractures, dislocations, a head or neck injury, or any injury after a serious fall or collision need an emergency department - call 911 if the person cannot be moved safely.

How to start

1. Open the sprains & strains assessment - a short, secure questionnaire (about 5 minutes).
2. A licensed Ontario pharmacist reviews it and follows up within 24 business hours (our average is about 2 hours).
3. If treatment is appropriate, they prescribe or recommend it and can send a prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.

Is it free?

The assessment is free with a valid Ontario health card, or a flat $30 without one. Any prescribed medication is billed at its usual price, which your drug plan may cover.

Common questions

Can a pharmacist order an X-ray?

No. If your answers suggest a possible fracture, the pharmacist will point you to a clinic or emergency department for imaging rather than treating it online.

See what we treat and start a free assessment →

Pharmly is operated by Citrus Pharmacy, accredited by the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP #306740). A prescription is never guaranteed - a pharmacist prescribes only when it is clinically appropriate. Not for emergencies: call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department for urgent symptoms.