What term describes a muscle or tendon injury?

• A. Strain
• B. Sprain
• C. Contusion
• D. Dislocation

Answer: (A)

A strain describes a muscle or tendon injury, arising from overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers or the attached tendon. This fits scenarios where pain and weakness appear with movement after a sudden pull, overuse, or heavy lifting, and where tenderness is focused in the muscle or the muscle-tendon unit. It’s different from a sprain, which involves ligaments around a joint; from a contusion, which is a bruise in soft tissue from a direct blow; and from a dislocation, which is a joint misalignment with obvious deformity. In assessment, you’d expect pain with resisted movement or muscle stretching, possible swelling, and preserved joint alignment, guiding initial management like rest, ice, compression, and gradual rehabilitation.