The Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)

The human body is an amazing machine, with many working parts that we can often take for granted – until they don’t work as we need them to. This can be especially true of parts of the body, such as the tendons and ligaments. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the lateral collateral ligament, what it does and how we can look after it. The lateral collateral ligament runs along the outside of the knee and is a thin but strong band of tissue that’s critical to leg movement. The lateral collateral ligament connects the thighbone, known as the femur, to the fibula. The fibula is the small lower leg bone that runs from down the side of the knee to connect with the ankle and so is integral to almost all lower body movement.

How does the MCL ligament gets injured?

The main function of the ligament is to withstand the valgus forces or forces that put the pressure on the joint displacing the bone away from its alignment. Activities that may injure your MCL are:

• Direct or indirect impact on the joint.
• Activities that involve twisting the knee
• Improper landing on the ground
• A Sport-related injury
• Overstretching of the ligament.

How do you know if you have injured your MCL?

There are three types of MCL injury depending on severity, mechanism of injury and how badly the fibers are stretched or torn. Your therapist (physiotherapist / Soft tissue therapist) here at Faye Pattison Physiotherapy will thoroughly examine the cause of injury and the injured knee by performing certain ‘special tests’ to confirm MCL injury.

A stress test is one technique that your therapist will perform on your injured knee where he/ she would apply stress on the medial side of your knee joint.

Accordingly, he/she will note the degree of MCL injury.

 

Types of MCL Injuries

 

1^st Degree

• The ligament fibers are intact
• The pain is usually localised
• Minimal swelling
• Bluish coloration (bruise) at the injured site
• No instability and there will be a mild functional disability.

2^nd Degree

• The ligament fibers are partially torn.
• Painful
• Moderate swelling
• Instability of the joint
• There will be difficult using the limb or difficulty moving

3^rd Degree

• The ligament fibers are completely torn
• There will be no pain/ severe pain as the nerve fibers are completely torn.
• Severe swelling, sometimes bleeding under the skin
• The joint will be unstable
• You won’t be able to bear weight on your limbs.

How Can Faye Pattison Physiotherapy help you?

First and foremost, it is important to consult an expert therapist if your knee hurts, though the 1^st and 2^nd degree MCL injury look quite manageable by self, the pain subsides with rest and gets neglected but it is liable to repeated injury. Also, the affected tissues around the MCL are prone to being in a state of ‘shock’ and ‘spasm’ which need to be addressed.

After the examination of your MCL injury, your physiotherapist / soft tissue therapist will plan the treatment protocol as per the degree of injury.

Our aim is to:

• Reduce pain and swelling
• Normalise Joint movement
• Strengthen the lower limb and the muscles
• Improve the joint alignment and maintain muscle length
• Improve your functional activity and guide you to return to the job
• Minimise the reoccurrence of the injury by advice, treatment and strengthening

If you believe you may have an MCL injury, then follow these steps below and get yourself booked into one of our diaries for an assessment.

 

For a 1^st degree MCL Injury

• Rest
• Ice/ cold therapy
• Elevation the leg with gentle ankle toe movements
• Avoid any weight baring activities that aggravate the MCL until assessed.
• Gradual strengthening exercises of the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles

The sprain usually heals within 1-2 weeks.

For a 2^nd degree MCL Injury

• Rest
• Ice/ cold therapy
• Elevation the leg with gentle ankle toe movements
• The use of knee supports or a brace for support and protection (if required)
• Knee taping
• Knee strengthening exercise regimen Prescribed by an expert

The sprain takes around 6-8 weeks to heal.

For a 3^rd Degree MCL Injury

• Rest
• Ice/ cold therapy
• Elevation the leg with gentle ankle toe movements
• A knee brace is advised, use of a crutch may be required to avoid weight bearing on the joint to allow healing
• Then progressing to tolerated movements of the limb
• Gradual strengthening exercise regimen

The sprain takes 3 to 4 months to heal.

In some cases of a 3^rd degree MCL injury, it requires surgery where an arthroscopy procedure is used to operate. It is an advanced procedure, the concerned Surgeon makes a small cut on the site through which a thin camera is inserted to examine the extent of ligament torn. The stitches are then made and leave to heal with the closure of cut.

To Conclude

Whether with or without surgery, after an MCL injury, you will be able to return to your activity or play sports but only after the correct rehabilitation has been done with your physiotherapist or soft tissue therapist and only when your therapist lets you know when it is ok to return!

If you are suffering from knee pain or know you have an MCL injury then get in touch! We deal with some of the best orthopaedic surgeons in the area so if we can’t fix you, we know who to put you in front of!

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE or CALL 01245 690520