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KEY POINTS
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A medial collateral ligament injury is an injury to one of the ligaments in your knee. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect one bone to another to form the joints. The medial collateral ligament attaches your thighbone to your shinbone on the inside of your knee. When a ligament is injured, it can be stretched, partially torn, or completely torn. Complete tears make the knee joint very loose and unstable.
A ligament injury is also called a sprain.
Medial collateral ligament injuries can happen if you are hit on the outer side of your knee or if a sudden activity twists or tears a ligament. It might happen, for example, if you fall and land on the side of your knee. It can also happen during skiing if you fall and catch the inside edge of your ski.
Symptoms may include:
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, activities, and medical history and examine you. You may have X-rays or other scans, such as:
You will need to change or stop doing the activities that cause pain until the ligament has healed.
Your healthcare provider may wrap an elastic bandage around your knee to keep the swelling from getting worse. You may need a knee immobilizer and crutches to protect your knee while you heal.
Complete tears of the medial collateral ligament rarely need surgery, but you may be in a knee immobilizer for several weeks.
Your healthcare provider may recommend stretching and strengthening exercises to help you heal. You will need to keep doing rehabilitation exercises to keep your leg muscles strong if your ligament is loose after the injury.
The pain often gets better within a few weeks with self-care, but some injuries may take several months or longer to heal. It’s important to follow all of your healthcare provider’s instructions.
To keep swelling down and help relieve pain for the first few days after the injury:
Follow your healthcare provider's instructions, including any exercises recommended by your provider. Ask your provider:
Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup. Keep all appointments for provider visits or tests.
Warm-up exercises and stretching before activities can help prevent injuries. For example, do exercises that build strong thigh and hamstring muscles and stretch your leg muscles.
Follow safety rules and use any protective equipment recommended for your work or sport. For example, if you ski, be sure your ski bindings are set correctly by a trained professional so that they will release if you fall.