What is a muscle strain?

• A. Injury to a nerve
• B. Stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon
• C. Dislocation
• D. Fracture

Answer: (B)

A muscle strain occurs when a muscle or its tendon is overstretched or torn, usually from forcing a muscle to work too hard or making a sudden, forceful movement. This soft-tissue injury leads to pain, weakness, swelling, and sometimes limited movement in the affected area. It’s different from a nerve injury, which would cause numbness or tingling and often radiates beyond the local area; a dislocation is when a joint is forced out of its normal position; and a fracture is a break in a bone. Because a strain specifically involves the muscle or the attached tendon and results from overuse or an abrupt stretch, it best fits the description of this condition.