What is the potential injury that can occur with overstretching a ligament?

When a ligament is overstretched, the potential injury that can occur is a sprain. Ligaments are strong, fibrous tissues that connect bones to one another at a joint. When they are stretched beyond their normal capacity, the fibers within the ligament can become torn or injured, leading to a sprain. This results in pain, swelling, and instability around the affected joint.

A sprain specifically refers to the injury of a ligament, whereas a strain refers to the injury of a muscle or tendon. This distinction helps clarify why a sprain is the correct answer in the context of ligament injury. Other potential injuries such as fractures and dislocations involve different structures in the body and are not caused specifically by ligament overstretching. Thus, the relationship between ligament overstretching and sprains underlines why sprains are identified as the relevant injury in this scenario.