what do you do for a mcl injury

Can you still walk with a torn MCL?

Can you still walk with a torn MCL? If you have a grade 1 (minor) MCL tear, you'll likely still be able to walk at the time of the injury, though it might be painful. A grade 2 (moderate) MCL tear could make it difficult to walk at the time of the injury since your knee won't be as stable as it normally is.

How do you tell if MCL is torn or sprained?

An individual with an MCL tear may notice the following:A popping sound when the injury is sustained.Pain (ranging from mild to severe depending on injury grade) on the inside of the knee.Instability, or feeling like the knee cannot bear weight and may give out.Knee stiffness.More items...•

What should I do if I hurt my MCL?

If you have a mild MCL strain, it can heal on its own with rest, ice, and other self-care. You'll need to raise your sore knee when you put ice on it, keep weight off the joint, and protect and compress the injury with a knee brace or elastic bandage.

Can a MCL tear heal on its own?

While an MCL tear can be extremely painful, the good news is that the tear usually heals on its own after a few weeks of rest. While there are no figures available on how many MCL injuries occur each year, it is considered the most common type of knee injury.

Is walking good for MCL sprain?

Many physical therapists and doctors recommend walking as an exercise to help relieve pain and stiffness after an MCL sprain, mainly if it is a grade II sprain. The MCL helps support the knee, and it is important to walk as soon as possible after the injury. Walking is beneficial in the healing process of MCL sprains.

How long do MCL tears take to heal?

It can take anywhere from a few days to 8 weeks for an MCL injury to heal and a person to return to normal activities and sports. Generally, the timeline is determined by the severity of the injury, although this is not true for every person.

Should I wear a knee brace for MCL injury?

Most patients with a grade I MCL tear will be able to return to sports within one or two weeks following their injury. For grade II injuries, you will most likely need to wear a hinged knee brace for a specified period of time.

Can you bend your knee with a torn MCL?

The knee may feel stiff, and a person may have difficulty straightening their leg or bending their knee. They may also find climbing the stairs or sitting in a chair challenging as this requires them to bend their knee. A torn MCL can affect the stability of the knee.

Is MCL tear worse than ACL?

An ACL tear is more serious than an MCL tear, and may require surgery to repair. Recovery time may be 6 months or more, including rehabilitation. An MCL tear can take around 8 weeks to recover from, but surgery is usually not required.

Does MCL pain get worse?

While some symptoms occur immediately after injuring the MCL, such as swelling and tenderness, others may appear or get worse in the days following the injury, such as bruising. MCL injuries are acute and therefore typically not related to progressive knee conditions, such as osteoarthritis.

What helps ligaments heal faster?

5 Treatment Solutions for Your Ligament InjuryRest. The generally accepted wisdom on how to initially treat a ligament injury can be summed up in one acronym: RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. ... Reduce Swelling. ... Ligament Injections. ... PRP Therapy. ... Balance Training.

Do all MCL tears require surgery?

Most MCL tears don't require surgery, and we like to take a non-surgical approach first. Your doctor may recommend treatments such as: Anti-inflammatory medicine. Ice.

What does a sprained MCL feel like?

The symptoms of MCL sprain include: Tenderness and pain in the inner side of the knee. Swelling and bruising. Stiffness of knee. Difficulty walking.

What does it feel like when you sprain your MCL?

Common symptoms of an injury to the medial collateral ligament are: Knee swelling. Locking or catching of the knee when you move it. Pain and tenderness along the inside of the joint.

Is torn MCL tender to touch?

When the medial collateral ligament is injured, most experience pain along the inner knee, and some can actually describe feeling or hearing a “pop.” For the first few days after the injury, the inner part of the knee can appear swollen and “black and blue” (ecchymotic) and is almost always tender to the touch.

How to tell if you have a MCL injury?

Most people feel pain along the inside edge of the knee, and they also have swelling. You might hear a pop when the damage to the knee takes place, and your knee may lurch to the side. You may find it hard to walk, or feel like you can’t put pressure on the leg with the hurt kne e.

How long does it take for a MCL to heal?

It’s rare for someone with an MCL injury to need surgery, since this ligament can often heal within a few weeks or months with the help of other measures.

Why does my MCL tear?

Causes. When your outer knee is hit very hard, the MCL, which runs along your inner knee, can stretch out far enough to strain or tear. People who play football, hockey, and other sports where players impact other athletes with great force may injure their MCL this way. You may also stretch or tear your MCL if your knee is suddenly pushed to ...

What happens if you hit your knee hard?

Symptoms. Diagnosis. Treatment. If you collide with another player when you’re playing a sport and the side of your knee is hit hard, your MCL may be injured. The MCL (medial collateral ligament) is a band of tissue that runs along the inner edge of your knee. It helps to connect your shin and thigh bones to keep your knee stable ...

What to do if your knee is sore?

You’ll need to raise your sore knee when you put ice on it, keep weight off the joint, and protect and compress the injury with a knee brace or elastic bandage. To ease pain and swelling, your doctor may have you take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.

How long does it take to get back to sports after knee surgery?

Whether or not you need surgery, you may be able to play sports again with a few weeks or months. Your doctor can let you know when it’s OK to get back to those activities, and they may ask you to wear a knee brace when you’re active.

Can you bend your knee when you have a MCL injury?

When your MCL is damaged, your knee can over-extend itself, or bend too far in a direction that it’s not supposed to bend. You may heal on your own with basic care, rest, and rehab. But if your injury is severe, you may need to have surgery.

What does it mean when your MCL is tearing?

An MCL tear causes pain on the inside of the knee. Tearing the MCL is likely to cause more severe pain that spraining the ligament. A person may notice a popping sound at the time of the injury. This is the sound of the MCL tearing.

Why do you need a knee brace for MCL?

A knee brace can help to prevent any sideways movement of the knee joint and protect the MCL from strain and pressure .

What to do if you tear your MCL?

What to know about MCL tears. A tear to the medial collateral ligament in the knee can cause pain, swelling, and a lack of stability in the knee. Treatment is usually with ice, a knee brace, and physical therapy. Surgery may be necessary in rare cases.

How to diagnose MCL tear?

A doctor should be able to diagnose an MCL tear after a physical examination of the knee. A doctor may compare one knee with the other, look closely at the injured knee, and gently feel for any swelling and the location of the tenderness. A doctor might carry out further imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis.

How does a torn MCL affect the knee?

A torn MCL can affect the stability of the knee. A person may feel as if their knee might give way or that their kneecap feels loose .

Which ligament runs along the inside of the knee?

The MCL runs along the inside of the knee, while the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) runs along the outside of the knee. Together, these two ligaments, along with others, help to keep the knee in place. Ligaments consist of strong connective tissue.

How to heal a broken knee?

Physical therapy can help a person regain normal movement in the knee. Doing gentle exercises recommended by a physical therapist can also help to strengthen the muscles around the knee, which will support healing.

What happens if your MCL is overextended?

If your MCL is overextended or overtaxed, then the ligament can become sprained or torn. This injury commonly occurs while participating in sports and is usually caused by twisting, cutting, or bending movements. Additionally, a blow or tackle to the outside of the knee can also cause this condition. 1

What to take after a MCL sprain?

After an MCL sprain, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) usually is recommended to help control the acute symptoms. This over-the-counter (OTC) option, which includes Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen), helps to reduce the pain and inflammation caused by this type of injury.

How to heal a grade 1 MCL sprain?

Along with issuing a brace, your doctor may also prescribe physical therapy (PT) to help you recover from grade 1 and some grade 2 MCL sprains. Early on in rehab, your physical therapist will focus on safely regaining the range of motion in your knee. Modalities like electrical stimulation or vasopneumatic compression (wearing a pressurized garment to manage swelling and inflammation) may also be utilized as needed to help control your pain and swelling.

What happens if you sprain your MCL?

If the MCL is sprained, it can cause knee pain, swelling, and reduced mobility of the joint. In this article, we'll discuss treatment options, including home interventions, medication, and physical therapy.

What is grade 1 knee sprain?

Grade 1: A mild sprain causing local tenderness, but not notable instability on the inside of the knee

How to repair a damaged MCL?

In this procedure, the surgeon uses a narrow scope with a camera on the end and special surgical tools to access the joint through a tiny keyhole incision.

What is the MCL?

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is an important structure that provides stability to the inside of your knee. Running from the thigh bone (the femur) to the lower leg bone (the tibia ), this ligament prevents the knee from buckling inward into a knock-kneed (valgus) position.

How long does it take for a knee ligament to heal?

When this happens, you may face a recovery time of weeks to months, depending on the grade of the MCL tear.

How to treat grade 3 MCL tear?

Treatment of Grade III MCL Tears. When a grade III MCL tear occurs, patients should brace their knee and use crutches until the pain has subsided. 7  The knee can be immobilized for a few days initially, but early range-of-motion will help in the recovery process. Once the patient can begin bending their knee, ...

How long does it take to recover from a grade 1 MCL tear?

Patients with a grade I MCL tear may be able to return to sports within one or two weeks following their injury.

What does resting from activity mean?

Resting From Activity: This means you won't be playing the sport where you sustained the injury while you recover. 4 

Can a grade III MCL tear be surgically treated?

Some surgeons advocate surgical treatment of grade III MCL tears in elite athletes or in those athletes with multiple ligament injuries in the knee. In these circumstances, you should discuss the optimal management of your injury with your healthcare provider.

Do MCL tears need surgery?

MCL tears often do not need surgery. There are many studies that document successful nonsurgical treatment in nearly all types of MCL injuries. 8  Most surgeons agree that for patients who complain of persistent knee instability, despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment, surgery is reasonable. 9 

Can you brace your MCL?

Treatment always begins with allowing the pain to subside, beginning work on mobility, followed by strengthening the knee to return to sports and activities. 3  Bracing can often be useful for the treatment of MCL injuries. Fortunately, most often surgery is not necessary for the treatment of an MCL tear.

Is Surgery Necessary?

A total rupture of the MCL usually doesn’t require surgery. Only in cases where the tear hasn’t healed after conservative therapy or other knee ligaments are damaged is surgery recommended. Surgery to repair a torn MCL involves stitching the ends of the ligament together or re-attaching it to the bone.

What is a grade 2 MCL injury?

Grade 2: In a Grade 2 MCL injury, the ligament is partially torn. Treatment is similar to a Grade I trauma, but patients may be advised to stabilize the knee with a brace while they recover. Grade 3: The most severe MCL injury, a Grade 3 MCL trauma means the ligament is completely torn.

How long does it take for a grade 1 MCL to heal?

Grade I: A Grade I MCL injury refers to a sprain of the ligament, but not a tear. This type of MCL injury heals within a few weeks with conservative therapy centered on resting the joint, reducing swelling with ice packs; and taking anti-inflammatory medications. Patients can strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee with exercises, including:

What is the MCL?

An MCL tear or rupture can be a debilitating injury, but it often responds well to conservative treatment options like physical therapy. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) runs along the inside of the knee and connects the shinbone, or tibia, to the femur, or thighbone.

How long does it take to recover from a knee injury?

It also requires a longer recovery time, typically about three months. In addition to wearing a brace or taking pressure of the knee with crutches, you’ll undergo physical therapy to increase the joint’s range of motion. You can also start walking and pedaling on a stationary bike when the pain subsides.

How many grades of MCL injuries are there?

MCL injuries are grouped into three grades, each with a different level of severity. Treatment depends on the type of MCL trauma, but most can be successfully overcome with conservative therapies.

How to strengthen the muscles around the knee?

Patients can strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee with exercises, including: Hamstring Curl: Stand straight on one leg and tighten the stomach muscles. Bend the other knee and slowly raise the heel toward the buttocks. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat with the other leg.

What causes an MCL sprain?

MCL sprains usually occur suddenly as acute knee injuries, however, they can develop gradually over time.

What is a medial knee sprain?

Medial Knee Ligament (MCL Sprain) A Medial collateral knee ligament sprain or MCL sprain is a tear of the ligament on the inside of the knee. It is usually caused by twisting or direct impact, but may develop gradually over time through overuse. Here we explain the symptoms, causes, treatment and rehabilitation of an MCL sprain.

What sports have medial ligaments?

Medial ligament injuries are common in contact sports such as football, rugby, and martial arts but they can also occur in activities of daily living as a result of falls that include a twisting action of the knee joint.

What is the pain on the inside of the knee?

However, gradual onset pain on the inside of your knee should also be considered for pes anserine tendinopathy or bursitis.

How long does it take to recover from a grade 1 sprain?

A mild MCL injury or grade one sprain should take 3 to 6 weeks to make a full recovery.

How long does it take for a knee to feel uncomfortable?

Your knee may feel uncomfortable or week.

How does ultrasound help with swelling?

Ultrasound works by sending high frequency sound waves into the tissues. This results in a mico massage effect and helps to reduce swelling.

What is grade 3 MCL?

Assessment tests, such as the valgus stress test will show significant movement in the joint (laxity.) The test will probably not have a definite endpoint when the medial ligament is stressed as there is no ligament stopping the movement. A grade 3 MCL injury often occurs with other injuries in the knee at the same time, such as an ACL sprain.

What is the grade of medial knee ligament sprain?

Medial knee ligament sprains are graded 1, 2 or 3 depending on the severity of the injury. Here we explain MCL sprain diagnosis and how they are graded.

Why does my knee feel sore after a grade 3 sprain?

Grade 3 injuries involve a complete (or near-complete) tear of the ligament. Pain levels can sometimes vary and it may feel less painful than a grade 2 MCL sprain. The reason for this is that the nerves supplying pain signals have also ruptured. You will have significant swelling and may feel that you have a very wobbly or unstable knee.

What does it mean when you have pain in your knee?

Pain on the inside of the knee and/or excessive movement (laxity) with an altered end feel in the ligament indicates a positive test. A positive test means you are likely to have injured your medial collateral knee ligament. The degree of damage can then be determined by how much movement/stability there is.

What does a stress test for knee ligaments feel like?

When your knee is assessed using stress tests such as the valgus stress test (see below), the ligament will feel stable with a hard end feel (no laxity). There will be minimal movement but you will have some degree of the pain somewhere along the ligament.

How does a therapist stabilize a knee?

They stabilize the thigh whilst applying outward pressure on the lower leg (tibia) and this stretches the medial ligament.

Can a grade 1 MCL sprain cause swelling?

For a grade 1 MCL sprain diagnosis to apply, you may have mild tenderness on the inside of your knee but usually no swelling.