Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury

The MCL is very commonly injured while participating in sports such as football and skiing. It often accompanies an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury. When the leg is hit from the outside of the knee joint, the knee tends to twist and buckle thus causing the ligament to over-stretch or tear. The cartilage or meniscus of the knee may also be torn during an MCL injury. Clipping during a football game is an excellent example of how this type of injury may occur.

Minor tears may not be noticed immediately but rather appear anywhere from a few hours to 2 days later. Common symptoms include pain and swelling directly over the ligament. Bruising will often appear 1-2 days after the injury occurs. More serious tears or ruptures of the MCL ligament may also make the knee feel unstable and leave the individual unable or unwilling to walk.

Anatomy

The knee has 2 collateral (parallel) ligaments and 2 cruciate (crossing) ligaments. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) provide support to the knee by limiting the sideways motion of the joint. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) bond the upper and lower parts of the leg together and stabilize the knee by limiting the rotation and the forward and backward movement of the joint. The Medial Collateral Ligament joins the end of the femur (thigh bone) and the top of the tibia (shin bone). It is tightly drawn when the leg is straight thereby preventing the 'opening up' of the knee joint.

Treatment

Treatment differs from case to case depending on the degree of instability in the knee and the patient's activity level. Treating a medial collateral ligament injury with rest, Cold Compression Therapy, Ultrasound Therapy, and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy will speed healing and improve the function of the knee once you return to your normal activities. Once the MCL has improved and activities can be resumed, you will first want to build muscle strength around the knee under the guidance of a physical therapist.

If MCL surgery is required, using these therapies prior to surgery will reduce further damage and improve the health of the MCL and surrounding tissue so the surgery is less invasive.

Using these therapies after surgery will control pain and swelling, reduce tissue damage, speed healing and treat the scar tissue resulting from the surgery. You will have a healthier knee with a greater range of motion than if your recontructed MCL was left untreated.

Cold Compression Therapy

Using ice and compression immediately following a medial collateral ligament tear reduces pain and swelling and reduces the tissue damage that occurs with soft tissue injuries like ligament tears.

The Knee Freezie Wrap allows you to treat yourself in an effective and convenient way following an MCL tear and after any further re-injury (which is common due to the instability of the knee).

Cold Compression Therapy works by interrupting and slowing nerve and cell function in the damaged area. Once blood vessels are damaged they can no longer carry oxygenated blood to the damaged tissue and therefore cells begin to break-down. The deep cold provided by our cold compression wraps slows cell function thereby reducing cellular break-down. Furthermore, because the cold wraps serve to numb the nerves, the wraps also reduce pain! The Knee Freezie Wrap uses a deep cold gel pack with a medical-grade neoprene compression cover to keep the ice off the skin preventing cryoburn and to keep the cold in the area that you need it.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound therapy increases tissue elasticity while promoting the flow of blood (filled with vital oxygen and nutrients) to your injured MCL. This cleans the injured area by getting rid of damaged tissue and reducing the inflammation surrounding the MCL and within your knee joint.

During the healing process, scar tissue builds on the ligament making it tough and inflexible, limiting the range of motion in your knee. Fortunately, you can treat your MCL with therapeutic ultrasound to soften scar tissue and improve flexibility.

Not only does ultrasound aid in the duration of healing, but it helps to prevent long term complications. Pain, scar tissue, lack of mobility and arthritis are some of the more common long term complications from an MCL injury. By treating your ligament with ultrasound, less scar tissue is formed reducing the risk of chronic problems in the future.

For those who suffer from long term complications of existing Medial Collateral Ligament injuries, ultrasound can help. Ultrasound therapy can help to break up scar and fibrous tissue in the affected area.

Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body. This is a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than ultrasound therapy alone.

This therapy can be received using a MendMeShop Ultrasound Therapy System. The treatment is safe, easy, painless, and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear). These waves send vibrations deep into your body and slightly increase the temperature of your soft tissue cells. The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer and conductive gel that are used together in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the injured area.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy™

After the inflammation and swelling is gone you can begin to treat your MCL tear with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy. This therapy increases your natural flow of blood to speed healing.

By treating yourself with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy you can increase your body's blood supply to the knee and the natural healing power. In addition, the fresh blood flow whisks away dead cells and toxins that have built up from the injury leaving the area clean and able to heal faster. Our Knee Inferno Wrap provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief and healing with no side effects.

During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your knee area until your pain and inflammation settle. With these 3 easy therapies you will notice incredible improvement in your knee. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results!

Prevention

To prevent knee injuries it is recommended that you gradually increase the intensity of any exercise or activity when you begin and to be aware of the movement of the knee during activity.

A knee that is supported by strong leg muscles is less prone to injury, therefore, regular exercise and maintaining good physical condition, particularly when participating in sports such as football and skiing are also excellent ways to avoid ligament injuries. If your knee is unstable or weak, wearing a brace during exercise and activity can reduce the risk of reinjury of the ligament while your knee is regaining strength.

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