Injury to a ligament is commonly called what?

• A. Sprain
• B. Edema
• C. Tendonitis
• D. Strain

Answer: (A)

Ligaments hold bones together at joints, so when a joint is overstretched or torn by twisting, fall, or impact, the injury to that connective tissue is called a sprain. A sprain ranges in severity from mild stretching to a complete tear, and symptoms typically include pain, swelling, and limited movement of the joint. The other terms describe different issues: edema is general swelling that can occur with many injuries, tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon from overuse, and a strain is an injury to muscle or tendon rather than the ligament. So the ligament injury is best described as a sprain.