Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Sprain Rehabilitation Exercises Therapy
- Clam exercise: Lie on your uninjured side with your hips and knees bent and feet together. ...
- Straight leg raise: Lie on your back with your legs straight out in front of you. ...
- Side-lying leg lift: Lie on your uninjured side. Tighten up the front thigh muscles on your injured leg and lift that leg 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) ...
Full Answer
How should a MCL sprain be treated?
Sep 24, 2021 · Treatment Options for an MCL Sprain. RICE Principle. Following your injury, the RICE principle is commonly recommended to get the inflammation around the sprained ligament under control. NSAIDs. Bracing. Physical Therapy. Surgery.
How to strengthen your MCL?
How do you make your MCL heal faster? Rest the use of an ice pack to minimize swelling that occurs hours after the injury and other measures as necessary. Compression with an elastic bandage or brace is recommended. Keeping the knee elevated.
How much will MCL injury treatment cost?
Feb 02, 2021 · MCL Injury Rehab Considerations. As previously discussed, the severity of injury to the MCL will dictate the course of rehabilitation. Nonoperative care has been the preferred treatment for most MCL injuries again due to the high quality of tissue healing. If upon an initial evaluation from a physical therapist or orthopedist, the specific clinician observes there is …
Does a MCL tear heal able on its own?
Feb 16, 2022 · Treatment for MCL tears include: Exercises to strengthen muscles. Use of a protective knee brace during exercise. Treatment for MCL Injury Rest. Application of an ice pack application to reduce swelling that occurs hours after the injury. Compression using an elastic bandage or brace. Elevating the knee. Pain relievers.
How long does it take to recover from a sprained MCL?
It can take anywhere from a few days to 8 weeks for an MCL injury to heal and a person to return to normal activities and sports. Generally, the timeline is determined by the severity of the injury, although this is not true for every person.
How do you rehab a MCL injury?
Quad setsSit with your affected leg straight and supported on the floor or a firm bed. Place a small, rolled-up towel under your knee. ... Tighten the thigh muscles of your affected leg by pressing the back of your knee down into the towel.Hold for about 6 seconds, then rest for up to 10 seconds.Repeat 8 to 12 times.
Can I exercise with MCL sprain?
Do the exercises daily for the first week, then decrease to every other day when using ankle weights. You may ride the stationary bicycle daily for 10 to 20 minutes. Avoid using stair-stepper machines, doing deep knee bends and squats or any exercise that causes crunching, clicking or pain at the kneecap.
How do you speed up a sprained MCL?
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.Mar 19, 2019
How do you tell if MCL is torn or sprained?
Symptoms of MCL Sprains and TearsA “popping” sound when the injury occurs. ... Immediate sharp pain from the inner section of the knee.Immediate swelling at the inner knee. ... Tenderness around the inner knee. ... Increased pain a few hours after the injury.More items...
Will MCL heal on its own?
The medial collateral ligament or MCL tear may heal on its own with the right care, rehabilitation, and rest. Healing depends on the severity of the injury. As the MCL has a good blood supply, most MCL tear usually responds to simple home treatments, such as: Resting the knee.Apr 2, 2021
Will walking on a torn MCL make it worse?
If the MCL or ACL tears, the result is usually pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability. In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful. Surgery may be the best route to a pain-free life, with amazing success rates.
What does MCL sprain feel like?
Stiffness. Swelling. Tenderness along the inside of the knee. A feeling that the injured knee may give way under stress or may lock or catch.
Is heat or ice better for MCL injury?
It is much better to apply ice for 3 to 5 minutes a couple of time an hour, than not at all. During the first 24 to 72 hours be sure to avoid any form of heat at the injury site. This includes heat lamps, heat creams, spas, Jacuzzi's and saunas. Avoid all movement and massage of the injured area.Mar 11, 2005
What kind of brace is used for a sprained MCL?
A special brace, called a hinged-knee brace, is used for the non-operative treatment of more severe sprains (Grade 2 and Grade 3). It is a brace that offers external side to side support for the knee while allowing the ligament to heal.
What is the middle phase of MCL rehab?
In the middle phase of MCL rehab, you will begin to re-expose the MCL to loads it will need to handle with everyday activities or sports you participate in. This includes progressive stability exercises focusing on joint proprioception, which is your body’s ability to understand where it is in space.
How long does it take to recover from a MCL tear?
However, most athletes return within 6 to 8 months time.
What is a P rehab program?
The Knee [P]Rehab Program is a physical therapist developed, step-by-step program that teaches you how to optimize your knee health. This 3-phase program will expose you to various knee and lower body strengthening and stabilization exercises supported by science. This program will bulletproof your knees for anything life throws at you! Learn more HERE!
Why are ligaments important?
In this way, ligaments provide support and strength to a joint, preventing injuries such as dislocations or instances of instability. As such, ligaments are present at almost every joint in our body. Some joints, like our hip joint, have what is called a good bony fit.
What is the MCL?
One of the more commonly injured knee ligaments is the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL). The MCL is on the inside part of the knee and runs from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial aspect of the proximal tibia. The MCL provides stability and support to the knee during lateral or cutting movements.
How long does it take for a ligament to heal?
For instance, a grade I ligament sprain may take up to 4 weeks to heal; however, a grade II can take up to 4 months! It is important to know that these are averages of tissue healing times, and there are many more prognostic indicators that play a role in establishing healing times, which vary from person to person. Moreover, these timelines are based solely on the biological properties of the tissue. Understanding the basics of differences in healing times will help you gain perspective when recovering from an injury. You can read more on this topic below in our tissue healing article!
Why do you wear a knee brace?
This includes reducing swelling, modulating pain, and avoiding activities that will stress the MCL. In some instances, if there is a grade II or III injury, a brace may be worn for a period of time to help control the stability of the knee.
What is the purpose of the MCL handout?
This handout is to help you rebuild the strength of the knee muscles after injury to the MCL of the knee. It is intended as a guideline to help you organize a structured approach to strengthen the knee.
How to straighten knees?
Standing sideways to the step, slowly step up onto the step and slowly straighten the knee using the quadriceps muscles. Slowly lower the opposite foot to touch the floor. Do not land on the floor, just touch gently and repeat the step up.
How long does it take to recover from a MCL sprain?
A mild MCL injury or grade one sprain should take 3 to 6 weeks to make a full recovery. A more severe grade 2 or grade 3 injury may take 8 to 12 weeks. MCL rehabilitation program.
What is the MCL?
Anatomy. The medial collateral ligament (or MCL for short) connects the thigh bone (or femur) to the shin bone (or tibia) on the inside of the knee and prevents the knee joint from moving sideways, particularly from forces on the outside of the knee. The MCL itself has two parts to it; a deep section which attaches to the cartilage ...
What is a medial knee sprain?
Medial Knee Ligament (MCL Sprain) A Medial collateral knee ligament sprain or MCL sprain is a tear of the ligament on the inside of the knee. It is usually caused by twisting or direct impact, but may develop gradually over time through overuse. Here we explain the symptoms, causes, treatment and rehabilitation of an MCL sprain.
How to reduce swelling in a swollen ear?
Electrotherapy. A professional therapist may use electrotherapy treatments such as Ultrasound to help control swelling and pain. Ultrasound transmits high frequency sound waves into the tissues applying a mico massage effect and helping to reduce swelling.
Where is the MCL located?
The MCL itself has two parts to it; a deep section which attaches to the cartilage and capsule in the knee, and a superficial band that starts higher up on the femur to an area lower down on the inner surface of the tibia and is much more near the surface .
Can a knee sprain cause a tear?
Twisting the knee can also cause a medial ligament sprain as well as the possibility of an ACL tear. If the foot is planted and the player tries to turn quickly this can also lead to stressing the joint causing the inside of the joint to open and tear the ligament.
What sports have medial ligaments?
Medial ligament injuries are common in contact sports such as football, rugby, and martial arts but they can also occur in activities of daily living as a result of falls that include a twisting action of the knee joint.
What is the best treatment for a MCL sprain?
I wish I could tell you there is a magic bullet that accelerates recovery. Unfortunately, rest is the main element to MCL sprain treatment. ICE and NSAID’s are always recommended, but they are usually most helpful after the initial injury.
How long does it take to recover from a sprain?
MCL sprain symptoms of recovery 1 Improves significantly in 7-10 days = 2-3 week recovery 2 Slight improvements in first 1-2 weeks = 3-4 week recovery 3 Slow improvements in first 3-4 weeks = 6-8 week recovery 4 Hard to see week to week improvements = 8+ week recovery
What is grade 3 MCL?
A grade 3 MCL sprain is a complete tear of the MCL. This means that surgical intervention is the only way to restore a functioning MCL. There is not a recovery time for the injury; as it will not health itself.
Is a grade 2 MCL tear a grade 3 tear?
A grade 2 MCL sprain can be the most difficult to diagnose. Really bad grade 2 MCL sprains often feel like what the injured party would imagine a grade 3 (complete tear) would feel like ; however, a non-complete tear isn’t as significant and can health without surgery; which is an important distinction between the two.
Can you stretch your MCL before it heals?
Your MCL sprain could be made much worse by trying to stretch it or increase its range of motion before it has had a chance to heal. This is a common treatment mistake.
Is grade 1 MCL sprain a grade 1 sprain?
A grade one MCL sprain can be one of the easiest ones to diagnose. If after the initial injury you feel progress day-to-day, you are probably looking at a grade 1 type of sprain. As mentioned above, there aren’t just three degrees of injury to an MCL. There is a spectrum.
How long does it take to recover from a MCL tear?
When this happens, you may face a recovery time of weeks to months, depending on the grade of the MCL tear. 2 . Treatment of an MCL tear depends on the severity of the injury.
How long should I be immobilized after a grade 3 MCL tear?
When a grade III MCL tear occurs, patients should brace their knee and use crutches until the pain has subsided. 7 The knee can be immobilized for a few days initially, but early range-of-motion will help in the recovery process.
How long does it take for a knee ligament to heal?
When this happens, you may face a recovery time of weeks to months, depending on the grade of the MCL tear.
Do MCL tears need surgery?
MCL tears often do not need surgery. There are many studies that document successful nonsurgical treatment in nearly all types of MCL injuries. 8 Most surgeons agree that for patients who complain of persistent knee instability, despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment, surgery is reasonable. 9
Can you bend your knee with a knee brace?
When a grade II MCL injury occurs, the use of a hinged knee brace can be useful in early treatment. 5 The hinged knee brace will allow you to bend the knee, but provide support to the injured ligament.
