What is the MCL and why should I be careful?
Your MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) is a wide and thick band of tissue that runs down the part of your knee from the thighbone to the shinbone. The main function is to keep the knee stable and prevent the leg from extending way too far inward. So when you injure it, it can really impact your day to day life and it can take a long time to recover from.
Types of MCL Injuries
- Grade 1 Injury: Usually gets better in 1-3 weeks and may only need crutches and home treatment for short time.
- Grade 2 Injury: Usually this one gets better in a month but you may need to wear a hinged knee brace and limit the weight put on your leg.
- Grade 3 Injury: This injury requires a hinged brace for a few months and can take 4-6 weeks to properly heal.
So how does it happen?
An MCL injury can occur with any activity that involves bending, twisting, or quick change of direction with your legs. It is usually caused by a direct blow to the knee and this is the most common leg injury in sports. Usually the knee is hit on the outer aspect which causes it to stretch and/or tear the MCL. When it happens you will immediately feel pain in the right inside of your knee. You may not hear a pop or tear, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Many times people will try and walk it off, treating it with pain medication, but the more pressure you put the knee, the greater the injury can become.
When Golden State Warriors all-star guard and current NBA MVP, Steph Curry sprained his right knee while guarding a Rockets player during this year’s NBA playoffs, it didn’t seem like a big issue. However, when Curry’s left foot appeared to slip on the court first, causing him to lose his balance, he wasn’t able to plant his right foot. His leg twisted awkwardly at the knee and he fell forward to the court. This injury caused Him to miss Games 2 and 3 and almost caused them to lose the first round playoff series. Luckily, he treated it in time or we might not have had the thrilling Western Conference 3 game comeback!
Next Steps:
Now you know little more than you did before. If you experience this kind of injury, please contact your Trilogy Therapy Physical Therapist immediately. They can choose specific activities and treatments to help restore normal movement and aid in getting you back to your normal daily life. So if you are in the Russellville, Dover, Little Rock areas, please give us a call at: (479) 331-3303 or come visit us at our location: 8952 Market Street, Suite 7b, Dover, AR 72837
We look forward to seeing you soon and have a great week.