Torn ligaments are one of the most common knee injuries – with the ACL and MCL in particular.
What are Your ACL and MCL?
Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones to one another and add stability and strength to a joint.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are the most commonly injured ligaments in the knee.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is located on the inner aspect, or part, of your knee, but it’s outside the joint itself.
The MCL connects the top of the tibia, or shinbone, to the bottom of the femur, or thighbone. A blow to the outside of the knee can cause the ligament on the inside of the knee (the MCL) to stretch and possibly tear. This is more common when playing a contact sport such as football or soccer. It could also happen as a result of an accident where there is a force applied to the outside of the knee.
MCL injuries are extremely painful. They can be categorized by the feeling of joints being “loose” or even displaced. While one may be able to walk after sustaining an MCL injury, the knee feels unstable and may catch during movement.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes your knee, a tear of the ACL is one of the most commonly occurring injuries in sports. A sudden twist of the knee or a dislocation of the joint could cause a pull or tear of the ACL. This could happen anywhere, including playing a sport, while running, or during a car accident.
Tearing the ACL can cause pain and swelling. Ignoring a torn ACL can potentially lead to further injury.
At Ohio Healthcare Partners in Fairlawn, Ohio, we treat ACL and MCL injuries and partial tears.
ACL Injury Symptoms
- A popping sound as soon as the tear occurs
- Swelling of the knee (generally happens within six hours of injury and could be quite severe)
- Pain, especially when walking, twisting, or turning on your injured leg
- Feeling that your knee is unstable, as if it’s going to give out from underneath you
MCL Injury Symptoms
The symptoms of an MCL injury are similar to the symptoms of other knee problems. Our skilled and experienced medical staff can examine your knee to determine the problem.
The symptoms of an MCL injury may include:
- a popping sound upon injury
- pain and tenderness along the inner part of your knee
- swelling of the knee joint
- a feeling that your knee is going to give out when you put weight on it
- locking or catching in the knee joint
Diagnosis of ACL and MCL Injury
An ACL or MCL tear needs to be examined by a medical professional like those we have at Ohio Healthcare Partners.
Jessica will review your medical history and ask how you injured yourself. The physical exam typically includes observing your knee’s range of movement and looking for any knee instability.
X-rays or MRIs also may be conducted to diagnose either ACL or MCL injuries.
Ohio Healthcare Partners in Fairlawn provides top quality treatment of knee injuries!
As you recover from your injury, the goal is to regain strength in your knee and prevent further injury.
We combine all of our knee therapy treatment plans with a combination of comprehensive exercises, chiropractic care, massage, and CORRECT knee bracing to achieve maximum results with our program!
To learn more about our Knee Pain Treatment Options, contact our team at Ohio Healthcare Partners in Fairlawn.
