MCL injuries
What is an MCL Injury?
Medial ligament injuries are common in basketball. They can also occur in daily life through falls and twists of the knee joint. As with all ligament injuries, they are graded 1, 2 or 3 depending on their severity. Grade 1 injuries are minor, grades 2 are moderate and 3 are severe.
How to treat MCL injuries
Injuries to the MCL rarely require surgery. If you have injured just your LCL, treatment is similar to an MCL sprain. But if your LCL injury involves other structures in your knee, your treatment will address those, as well.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Ice. Icing your injury is important in the healing process. The proper way to ice an injury is to use crushed ice directly to the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, with at least 1 hour between icing sessions. Chemical cold products ("blue" ice) should not be placed directly on the skin and are not as effective.
Bracing. Your knee must be protected from the same sideways force that caused the injury. You may need to change your daily activities to avoid risky movements. Your doctor may recommend a brace to protect the injured ligament from stress. To further protect your knee, you may be given crutches to keep you from putting weight on your leg.
Physical therapy. Your doctor may suggest strengthening exercises. Specific exercises will restore function to your knee and strengthen the leg muscles that support it.
Surgical Treatment
Most isolated collateral ligament injuries can be successfully treated without surgery. If the collateral ligament is torn in such a way that it cannot heal or is associated with other ligament injuries, your doctor may suggest surgery to repair it.
Steps to Recover
- Apply R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) to the injured knee.
- Rest from training.
- Wear a knee brace to support the joint, particularly for grade 2 and 3 injuries.
- Wear a heat retainer after the acute phase for minor injuries.
- Try to keep the knee mobile.
