Knee
- Common Conditions
- Knee
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Tear
What Is an MCL Tear?
The MCL is found on the inside of the knee, they help stabilise the joint and prevent it from moving side to side. The ligament comes from the bottom of the thigh bone and connects into the top of one of the shin bones, an MCL Tear is when there is damage to this ligament. This kind of damage is usually caused suddenly when the outside of the knee is forced inwards and the foot is still on the ground causing an over-stretch of the ligament. There are three grades of a ligament injury:
1- Minimally torn fibres and no loss of ligament integrity
2- Partial tear of several fibres with increased laxity of the ligament
3- A complete rupture of all fibres of the ligament
This may be an isolated injury or is commonly known as a complex injury when other structures surrounding the ligament are also damaged.
What Are the Symptoms?
The main symptom is pain directly over the ligament on the outside of the knee, swelling and possible bruising subjective to the grade of injury.
What May My Rehabilitation Consist Of?
- Sports Massage Therapy – Using a range of techniques to decrease swelling, increase blood flow, reduce muscle spasm and promote healing.
- Mobilisations – A manual technique used by your therapist to move the joint and soft tissues gently to restore normal range, open joint spaces and relieve pain.
- Deep Transverse Frictions – This is an aggressive massage technique applied across the tissue fibres, it is initially painful but will eventually cause a lasting numbing effect.
- Exercise Rehab Programmes – An aftercare plan will be tailored specifically to you and your injury to help stretch, strengthen muscles and develop co-ordination and balance to aid recovery.
- Electrotherapy – Using high-frequency electrical currents to reduce pain and promote healing in deep tissues.
- Taping/Strapping – This may be used to restrict normal movement to allow the injury to heal without further damage. Kinesiology tape may be used to help support the joint without restricting movement, increase blood flow and restore proprioception awareness.
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