A common and painful sports knee injury, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear can sideline an athlete for two weeks to over a year, depending on the severity of the injury and the intensity of the sport. While not as serious as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears or injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (also known as the tibial collateral ligament) injuries should still be treated with care by a sports injury specialist or the athlete risks chronic pain and ongoing instability in the knee joint.
What is a Medial Collateral Ligament Injury?
The MCL supports the medial (inner) side of the knee joint by attaching to the tibia, femur, and medial meniscus. Medial collateral ligament injuries are very common in the sports injury world, often occurring after a lateral (from the outside) impact to the knee joint, such as a football tackle or hockey check. Injuries to the medial collateral ligament range in severity from first-degree (partial) tears to third-degree (complete) tears.
MCL Injury Treatment Tip - Strengthen the Groin Muscles
In any type of sports injury rehab, a key goal is to support and protect the injured area by strengthening the surrounding muscles. Since the MCL is located on the medial (inner) side of the knee joint, for a medial collateral ligament injury it is especially vital to strengthen the groin muscles, which run along the medial side of the thigh.
Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries Often Accompanied by Torn Meniscus
Since the medial collateral ligament is also attached to a piece of cartilage in the knee joint called the medial meniscus, a sports injury resulting in a torn MCL commonly also results in a torn meniscus. A torn meniscus cartilage can complicate the knee injury rehab program by restricting the motion of the knee joint, making it especially important to consult a sports injury specialist.
Always Work with a Sports Injury Specialist During MCL Injury Rehab
While MCL sprains are not as serious as a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and generally do not require knee surgery, it is still important to consult a sports injury specialist when designing a medial collateral ligament injury rehab program. An experienced sports injury specialist will be able to supply an MCL injury rehab routine that will strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee joint to stabilize the joint, speed up recovery, and protect from re-injury.
Use a Slow and Steady Approach to Medial Collateral Ligament Injury Rehab
Like any program for sports injury rehab, medial collateral ligament injury rehabilitation should be performed in a cautious and controlled fashion. By steadily building flexibility and strength in the muscles surrounding the knee joint, a conservative approach to rehabilitating a torn MCL will ensure that an athlete can return to activity as soon as possible with a minimum risk of repeating the MCL injury.
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