A medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear or sprain is an injury due to damage to the ligament running along the inside of the knee. The ligament occupies a slightly posterior position in the knee joint and functions to prevent your knee bending inwards. Like the other knee ligaments, it connects the shin and thigh bones and helps keep the knee joint stable. MCL Injury damage can be overstretching, tearing or a rupture of the ligament. Symptoms are pain and swelling along the inner edge of the knee. Treatment of an MCL Tear is usually by resting the nee and using ice to ease the pain. This injury is similar to an LCL injury except that it occurs on the inner side of the knee instead of the outside.
This injury is normally the result of a hard blow to the outer knee. Typically, this injured occurs in football or other contact sports with plenty of player to player collisions.
As with other knee ligament injuries, those on the receiving end of MCL injuries tend to be serious athletes or individuals who participate in contact sports.
An MCL tear or sprain will normally result in pain, swelling, tenderness and knee stiffness.
At the time the injury happens, the patient may also hear or sense a pop in the injured knee.
In cases of severe MCL injury, the patient will also experience knee instability. He or she may experience difficulty walking without feeling as though the knee is wobbly and can’t bear the pressure of body weight.
To treat your MCL tear or sprain, the patient may need to keep weight off the knee for a period. He or she should spend as much time as possible sitting or lying down. If the patient does need to walk a lot, using crutches to keep weight off the knee would be a good idea.
Wearing knee supports will help to support the knee and promote more rapid healing. If the MCL injury is serious, a hinged knee brace may be necessary to provide additional support.
Additional treatment measures for an MCL tear or sprain may be:
Once the MCL has started to heal, the patient may need to commence rehabilitative exercises to gradually increase his or her range of motion and strengthen the leg muscles. This will help to ensure that the patient regains full use of the knee as soon as possible.
Knee ligament protection. The BioSkin Gladiator uses a rigid hinge to effectively protect knee ligaments, including after reconstruction. The rigid strapping system firmly anchors the Gladiator to the leg, avoiding the need for longer, less comfortable braces. Pins in the hinges may easily be set to limit flexion and/or extension.
Knee Ligament Protection. The BioSkin Gladiator Front Closure uses a rigid hinge to effectively protect knee ligaments, including after reconstruction. The rigid strapping system firmly anchors the Gladiator to the leg, avoiding the need for longer, less comfortable braces. Pins in the hinges may easily be set to limit flexion and/or extension.
Lightweight and low profile for comfort. Our BioSkin Hinged Knee Skin is one of the lightest hinged knee braces available. The offset, bicentric hinges conform to the shape of the leg and provide extra support to knees with ligament damage. The Hinged Knee Skin provides excellent compression to control swelling and pain caused from a meniscus tear or an LCL or MCL injury, and to speed up the healing process in a damaged knee joint.
Structural support for knee instability. Our BioSkin Hinged Knee Skin Front Closure is one of the lightest hinged knee braces available. The offset, bicentric hinges conform to the shape of the leg and provide extra support to knees with ligament damage. The Hinged Knee Skin provides excellent compression to control swelling and pain caused from a meniscus tear or an LCL or MCL injury, and to speed up the healing process in a damaged knee joint.
The McDavid Knee Support With Stays & Cross Straps features reinforced spring steel stays offer enhanced medial-lateral confidence. Also included are elastic cross straps for enhanced compression and added rotational and collateral ligament support. The padded open buttress offers 360˚ support of the patella.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Moderate support helping to relieve symptoms and aid recovery from chondromalacia, patellar subluxation and tendonitis
The Mueller OmniForce Knee Stabilizer AKS-500 aims to alleviate moderate knee pain and instability and features 3 coiled alloy stays and soft, comfortable and breathable fabric to provide superior moisture management. Replaces the MU4540 and MU230 knee supports.
Discover how the Sammons Preston Knee Immobilizer provides post-operative knee immobilization designed to lock the knee in a fully extended position,
