Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
The medial collateral ligament, or MCL for short, is the band of muscle that connects the inside of our thigh bone to our lower leg bone. It helps keep us stable and prevents the knee from bending the wrong way, whilst allowing us a full range of flexibility.
Along with the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) this ligament is one of the most common to sprain in your knee. Usually it’s injured due to a sudden change in direction or due to twisting it awkwardly.
It’s most likely to get damaged while doing sports like skiing, football, or even vigorous housework.
Regardless of the cause, our capable team is ready to support your rehabilitation process, so that you can get back to your best.
You may hear a popping sound when the MCL tears.
A few hours after injury the affected area might begin to show signs of bruising. You may also encounter difficulty when trying to bend your knee. It’s likely your knee will be sore and swell. Pain tends to run along the inside edge of the knee when the MCL is damaged.
You may also feel unstable, as though your knee could buckle to the side.
For immediate care, we suggest the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, elevation. It’s also essential to get your knee checked by a doctor, so that they can assess whether an X-ray is necessary to rule out any further damage.
After initially treating your knee with this method, physical therapy is recommended. Our osteopaths and chiropractors use a range of exercises to strengthen the knee and surrounding muscles in order to improve support.
Initial treatments will focus on tissue healing, restoring the function of the joint and preventing further damage to the knee and neighbouring tissues. Rehabilitation through osteopathy aims to restore strength and stability in order to decrease the chance of future injury.
Acupuncture is another great way to reduce pain, while speeding up recovery time.
Another way to support your recover is through diet. Turmeric, leafy greens and fatty fish are a great place to start, but for personalised recipe plans to support your recovery, you can book an appointment with one of our naturopaths.
What’s next?
If you have a damaged MCL, we can help.
Bring your body back into balance with our osteopaths and chiropractors. Connect with us below, and we'll be in touch shortly.