Currently, he is a team physician for several New Hampshire Seacoast high schools. Your MCL connects your leg bones and helps provide stability to the knee joint. The MCL also controls mobility and prevents the knee from extending too far. Surgery is not always necessary for MCL repair since minor tears will typically heal on their own within a few weeks. However, if the MCL was completely torn with no functioning in the ligament, surgery will be needed.
The answer to this question will depend on the severity of your tear and the type of treatment plan you follow to recover. Grade III tears are more serious and will require surgery to heal, which can prolong your recovery period. Most commonly, the following symptoms are reported after an MCL injury: A popping sound at the time of injury A swollen knee joint Pain and tenderness along the inside edge of the knee Locking or catching in the knee joint Diagnosing an MCL Injury Your physician will need to first examine your knee by bending or applying pressure to the outside of the joint.
Joshua A. What does the MCL do? Do I need surgery to repair my MCL tear? What is the recovery time for an MCL tear?
An X-ray can provide more information if a doctor suspects a broken bone in or around the knee. Putting ice on the injury will help to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Hold some crushed ice against the side of the injured knee for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat as necessary, leaving a 1-hour interval between treatments.
Raising the knee on a chair or stool can help to ease discomfort. Protect the MCL while it is healing to prevent further injury and speed up recovery time. A knee brace can help to prevent any sideways movement of the knee joint and protect the MCL from strain and pressure.
If an MCL tear is severe, a doctor may recommend that a person use crutches to avoid putting weight on the knee joint. Resting the knee after an MCL tear can help speed up healing. People should avoid contact sports and movement that puts too much strain on the MCL until the injury heals fully. This can help to prevent further damage. In some cases, surgery may be necessary. If the location of an MCL tear means that it is unlikely to heal, or if a person has torn more than one ligament, a doctor may recommend surgery.
Surgery involves reconnecting the ends of the ligament or reattaching it to the bone if necessary. Physical therapy can help a person regain normal movement in the knee.
Doing gentle exercises recommended by a physical therapist can also help to strengthen the muscles around the knee, which will support healing. A physical therapist will be able to advise on strengthening exercises to aid recovery after an MCL tear.
Some possible exercises may include:. Recovery is different for every person and will depend on how severe the MCL tear is. A more severe tear could take 2 months or more. Recovery usually means being able to walk without limping or move the knee fully without pain. Build up to regular movement and normal exercise levels slowly to help prevent a further injury.
A doctor or physical therapist will be able to advise on when to return to usual activities. They may recommend wearing a knee brace to support the joint and ligaments following an MCL tear.
Most MCL injuries occur during contact sports. This type of injury may also happen after an accident, when twisting or turning the knee unnaturally, or during an activity, such as skiing, that places strain on the knees. Avoiding these situations is not always possible but warming up and keeping the muscles around the knees strong can help to prevent an MCL tear.
If muscles and ligaments are strong and flexible, they may be more likely to stretch rather than tear. Wearing well-fitting shoes and appropriate protection during sports can help to reduce the risk of injury.
APTA offer tips on how to minimize knee injuries during skiing, including staying within ability limits and maintaining balance during the snowplow position. Being tired or exercising with an existing injury can increase the risk of accidents.
Arthroscopy involves inserting a small, thin camera through a tiny incision, or cut. After the arthroscopic exam, your surgeon will make a small incision along the inner aspect of your knee.
If your ligament is torn where it attaches to either your shinbone or your thighbone, your surgeon can use one of these to reattach it:. The outlook is usually good regardless of whether or not surgery is needed. Recovery times vary depending on the severity of your MCL injury. Since grade 1 MCL injuries are minor, they only take a few days to heal.
Grade 2 injuries, however, can take up to four weeks. Grade 3 injuries are the most severe and have the longest recovery time. It typically takes eight weeks or more for these types of injuries to heal. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that provides a cushion between your femur thighbone and tibia shinbone. Arthritis can affect your sleep. Mild to moderate knee pain can often be successfully treated at home. Learn how to use heat, cold, tai chi, and other strategies to ease your knee….
Learn more about what causes chronic and severe knee pain and why knee replacement is an option that may offer relief. Strengthening your knees can ease pain and help you manage osteoarthritis — and one simple knee-strengthening exercise is stair-climbing. Learn more…. Sports injuries can happen during regular exercise or while playing a sport. Find out all…. Knee compression sleeves we recommend for stability during exercise.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
0コメント