What are the Causes of MCL Tears?
Your knee is made up of cartilage, fluid, ligament, and bone. There is an assortment of things that can go wrong when it comes to your knees. When you think about it, your knees are a large part of your everyday life activities according to our orthopedic in Hackensack NJ at New York Sports Medicine Institute. From running to walking to just standing your knees are constantly under pressure.
That being said your knees are always twisting, pivoting, and shifting your body weight. With all this pressure your knee is constantly under, it’s no wonder why the knee is one of the most injured joints in the body. The largest joint in the body connects various bones and muscles that are all essential to perform an assortment of physical activities. One common injury that occurs for athletes, as well as nonathletes, is the MCL tear.
What are the Causes of MCL Tears?
MCL stands for Medial Collateral ligament. This injury occurs when the outside of your knee is severely hit and damages cause the ligament to tear or partially tear. It is normal for wear and tear to occur further damaging the MCL over time. Think of your MCL as a rubber band that is constantly being stretched. If overstretched it’s possible for the rubber band to snap or be worn out. When this happens it can cause severe pain in your knee and disable you until you properly recover. This may require surgery or vigorous rehab for months at a time.
Some symptoms of an MCL tear include but are not limited to are:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- The feeling of your knee locking in place and many more…
Symptoms of MCL Tears
These symptoms can come with severe or mild pain. Most doctors will determine the type of tear you have. This means you may have a full tear, a partial tear, or the ligament is just stressed out. Depending on the diagnosis the doctor gives you, will determine the recovery treatment plan you will receive. The worse the tear usually means the longer the recovery. Doctors will determine the severity of the tear by “grades”. Grades run from 1-3. Grade 1 means minor pain, Grade 2 refers to looseness in the knee, swelling, major pain in the knee. Grade 3 refers to extreme pain and tenderness, your knee moving up to 1 cm in either direction when the doctor moves it with their hand. Usually, a grade 3 tear means you also damaged other ligaments in your knee like the ACL or Meniscus.
Any one of these grades should be looked at by an orthopedic in Hackensack NJ. The longer you let your ligament go untreated the greater the risk of permanent ligament damage. There are plenty of treatment options when it comes to MCL tears. Surgery is an option if needed but in most cases, physical therapy is required to regain the strength and stability in your knee. At New York Sports Medicine Institute we have decades of experience when it comes to knee ligament issues. Our doctors will determine the severity of your injury and pick a proper recovery plan that will suit your needs.
Orthopedic in Hackensack NJ
A cast may be needed depending on the severity of the injury. It is important to keep the knee stable in recovery until otherwise directed by a professional. Your knee is extremely fragile while recovering from an MCL tear. Any sudden and jerk-like movement to your knee can result in further damage and may put you back to square one. It is essential you carefully maneuver your knee while recovering. Good blood supply can drastically speed up recovery time. It is important that your knee is able to receive a direct blood supply. This method is very important and can relieve pain instantly.
Free blood flow is important while recovering. You may want to keep your leg in an elevated position to ensure healthy blood flow. If you or someone you know has damaged or torn ligaments in their knee it’s important to seek medical attention. At New York Sports Medicine Institute our orthopedic in Hackensack, NJ will specifically tailor your recovery treatment plan to get you back to feeling brand new. Please do not hesitate to call with any concerns or questions you may have.