What does an MCL strain feel like?
An injury to the MCL leads to swelling and pain in the medial, or inner, aspect of the knee. Patients will often feel pain with knee bending or twisting maneuvers. When an MCL tear is severe, the athlete can feel a sense of instability or opening on the inside of the knee.
How do you treat a sprained MCL?
Most MCL injuries can be treated at home with rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medicine. Your doctor may suggest that you use crutches and wear a brace that protects but allows for some movement of your knee. You may need to reduce your activity for a few weeks.
How long does it take to recover from a sprained MCL?
Nonsurgical Methods Recovery time for an MCL injury depends on the severity of the damage. On average, these injuries take six weeks to heal. No matter the grade of the tear, initial treatment focuses on immobilizing the knee and reducing pain and inflammation.
How do you know if you tear your MCL?
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.
Where is the medial collateral ligament in the knee?
It is one of the most common knee injuries and results mostly from a valgus force on the knee. The medial collateral ligament is a big ligament on the medial side of the knee. For more clinically relevant anatomy of the knee click here.
What are the symptoms of a medial collateral ligament injury?
Sometimes this is associated with swelling within the knee joint. Occasionally, swelling develops in a matter of minutes. The knee pain of an MCL knee injury may also cause the person to limp in order to protect the knee joint.
Where does the meniscofemoral ligament come from in the knee?
Attachments. The origin of the meniscofemoral comes from the femur just distal to the superficial medial collateral, inserting into the medial menisci. The meniscotibial ligament is thicker and shorter with an attachment forming on the distal edge of the articular cartilage of the medial tibial plateau coming from the medial meniscus.
How does VST assess medial collateral ligament of the knee?
The VST assesses laxity of the MCL compared to the contralateral knee as a control. An increase in laxity and joint space usually distinguishes damage to the medical collateral ligament. The patient should be positioned supine.
