MCL Tear

What is an MCL Tear?

A medial collateral ligament tear, or more commonly known as an MCL tear, occurs when there is damage to the medial collateral ligament, located on the inner part of the knee. This ligament is about 8-10 cm in length and connects the femur to the tibia, in addition to providing strength and stability to the knee join. A sudden and forceful twist and turn in the knee or direct hit to the outer part of the knee can cause a partial or complete tear in the ligament. MCL tears can be categorized into 3 grades:

Grade 1: mild tear where less than 10% of the fibers in the MCL are torn and the knee is still stable. Some tenderness and mild pain would occur.
Grade 2: A higher percentage of fibers are torn, leading to a partial tear. The knee will likely be loose when moved by hand, and a higher intensity of pain and tenderness will be felt alongside the inner part of the knee.
Grade 3: Every fiber is torn, leading to a complete tear. The knee will be extremely unstable and loose, and an immense amount of pain and tenderness will be felt.

Symptoms

Hearing a popping sound at time of injury
Pain or tenderness felt alongside the inner part of the knee
Stiffness and/or swelling in the knee
The feeling of the knee “giving out” if weight is applied
Feeling the knee joint lock when in use

When to see a doctor

When the knee is injured, see a doctor as soon as possible. Most MCL tears can heal without surgery; however, grade 3 tears usually occur alongside other knee injuries, leading to a need for surgery.

Prevention

Use a knee brace during training to increase stability. This lowers the risk of the knee buckling or bending incorrectly
Wear properly fitted cleats for your position, with the correct amount of padding and proper studs
Strengthen muscles around the knee before and after games/practices:
- Hip abductions
- Straight leg raises
- Standing hamstring curl
- Squats (when injured, take your time to work your way past 90 degrees; don't do complete squats at first
- Wall slides

Recovery

RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate)
NSAIDs can help reduce swelling/pain
Surgery, if needed