Medial Collateral ligament (MCL) Injury

MCL injury is a stretch, partial tear or complete tear of the ligament inside the knee. The medial collateral ligament is one of the four ligaments that maintain the knee’s stability, so MCL injuries usually occur after an outside impact of the knee, upper leg, or lower thigh. MCL tear can cause pain, swelling, and a lack of stability in the knee.

Characteristics/ Clinical presentation

• stiffness, swelling and bruising, pain on the inner side of the knee,
• difficulty when trying to straighten or bend the knee.
• In minor cases of a MCL tear, patients may be able to continue activity only to experience an increase in pain, swelling and stiffness in the knee after activity with rest.
• Patients may also experience a feeling of the knee going out and then going back in as well as a rapid onset of swelling
• Patients with a complete MCL tear generally cannot continue activity due to pain or the knee feeling unstable.

Main causes of MCL injury

• When the knee is hit directly on its outer side in the activities such as soccer
• Landing awkwardly on the knee
• Squatting or lifting heavy objects
• Hyperextending the knee

Risk factors for developing MCL injury

• Previously torn MCL

Once an MCL has been strained or torn, the chances of the injury occurring again increase.

• Certain Sport/Activities

Sports and activities such as soccer, football, hockey, and basketball are at higher risk to injure the MCL

Physiotherapy management for MCL injury

               In York-Med physiotherapy, our registered physiotherapist and chiropractors provide a type of treatment to speed up the healing process and ensure an optimal outcome and reduce the likelihood of future reoccurrence. The treatment plan may compromise of:

• Manual therapy and Joint mobilization
• Ice/heat treatment
• Electrotherapy
• Soft tissue massage
• Bracing
• Prescribing Exercise to improve flexibility, strength, and balance
• Education
• Activity modification advice
• Biomechanical correction
• A Gradual return to activity program

Most patients with a minor to moderate MCL injury (grades 1 and 2) can return to sport or normal activity within 4– 8 weeks with appropriate management. Patients with a complete rupture of the MCL will require a longer rehabilitation period to gain optimum function. Patients with a MCL tear who also damage other structures of the knee, such as the meniscus or collateral ligaments, are likely to have an extended rehabilitation period.