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A muscle strain is best described as pain due to overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers. This condition typically occurs when a muscle is subjected to excessive force or stretched beyond its natural capacity, leading to damage in the muscle tissue. Strains can range from mild overstretching to severe tears, which may result in symptoms such as pain, swelling, limited range of motion, and muscle weakness.

The other options relate to different types of injuries. Pain in the joint generally indicates issues with the joints themselves, such as arthritis, bursitis, or muscle-tendon attachments rather than the muscle fibers. Pain from a ligament tear pertains specifically to damage in ligaments, which connect bones at joints, and not muscles. Lastly, pain caused by tendon inflammation refers to tendinitis, an issue affecting the tendons that attach muscles to bones, rather than the muscles themselves. Thus, the hallmark characteristic of a muscle strain is indeed the overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers.