MCL Injury Bloomsdale, MO | Sports Rehab

MCL Injury | Bloomsdale, MO Physical Therapy

MCL Injury in Bloomsdale, MO. For many athletes and physically active people, feeling that sudden “pop” in their knee creates a lot of doubts: Did I suffer an MCL injury? Is it significant? How long will I be sidelines for? Will I have to permanently give up the things I love doing? At Axes Physical Therapy in Bloomsdale, MO, all of our physical and occupational therapists are dedicated to positive patient outcomes. While we’d like to be able to make your MCL injury go away, we can help ensure you get back to feeling like yourself with safe, effective treatments. Physical therapy has proven to be an essential aspect of any treatment plan for MCL injuries. Our physical therapists in Bloomsdale, MO specialize helping a variety of injuries and conditions in the musculoskeletal system heal. For treatment plans you know will be effective, call the Axes location nearest you or schedule an appointment online.

The Anatomy of the MCL

MCL an acronym for “medial collateral ligament.” A ligament is like a strong, firmly attached rope that connects bone to bone and provides stability. The MCL runs from the inside of your upper shin bone to the inside of your bottoms thigh bone and keeps the knee from moving side to side. Its main purpose is to withstand valgus stress, or the knee being forced too far inward. It is one of four ligaments that help control the knee, along with the:

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), which goes through the middle of your knee and controls rotation and prevents the tibia from sliding too far forward on the femur
PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), which forms an “X” with the ACL in the middle of the knee and prevents excessive posterior translation of the tibia relative to the femur
LCL (lateral collateral ligament), which connects the femur to the fibula (the smaller bone the small bone behind the tibia) and gives stability to the outer knee

The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body. Correct structure and movement depends on surrounding bone, muscle, tendons, and ligaments. When any knee injury, such as an MCL tear, occurs it can greatly affect your mobility and ability to do what you love most, or just get around the house pain-free. Certain physical therapy techniques and other physician-prescribed treatment plans have been demonstrated through research and analysis to help patients manage their symptoms and return to optimal functionality.

MCL Injury Bloomsdale, MO | Sports Rehab | Injury Prevention | Physical Therapy Near Bloomsdale

What Types of MCL Injuries Are There?

In general, an MCL injury is either a sprain, wherein the MCL is stretched farther than is naturally, or a tear, where the ligament is either partially or completely torn or separated from the bone. There are three grades to MCL injuries:

Grade 1 — A grade 1 sprain or tear means that the ligament has been stretched, and less than 10% of the MCL has been torn. These injuries are typically not especially painful or debilitating, and don’t result in much instability. Symptoms will likely be tenderness and some soreness.
Grade 2 — This is more significant tearing, generally to the more fibrous part of the MCL. You will probably lose some stability in the joint, and the knee will likely be loose when manipulated manually. A grade 2 injury will result in significantly more pain than a grade 2 MCL injury.
Grade 3 — This occurs when your MCL is entirely torn, both the fibrous and deep parts. Your knee will be significantly unstable. Pain will be intense and you’ll likely feel several other symptoms. The injury may actually caused by or accompanied by other serious knee injuries such as ACL tears.

Whatever grade MCL injury you have, our professional Bloomsdale, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes can, as a team with your doctor, create an extensive plan specially made for you and your injuries to get you back to the things you love safely.

What Causes MCL Injuries?

40% of all knee injuries involve damage to the MCL, LCL, ACL, or PCL, and the MCL is the most commonly injured ligament. MCL injuries occur due to the knee suddenly being forced too far inward. MCL injuries can also by the knee rotating too forcefully. They can also happen because of landing or awkward bending, such as if your foot stays in one place while the rest of your body moves.

MCL injuries usually occur athletes in contact sports and in sports that require a lot of cutting and jumping such as football, soccer, skiing, basketball, and tennis. They are also common in those who have to hunch over and lift heavy objects, either for athletic training or in the course of their employment.

Common Symptoms of MCL Injuries

Most people feel pain immediately on the inside of the knee when they experience an MCL sprain or tear. Other symptoms may include:

Hearing or feeling a popping sound or sensation
The knee being unstable
Pain or discomfort when trying to bear weight
Contusions
Tenderness where the MCL is located
Inflammation, either of the MCL area or the whole knee

Sometimes you may feel a “wobbly” sensation, or in other cases you’ll barely be able to move the knee. Any time you feel pain or instability in your knee, do not participate in any more strenuous activity and schedule a physical examination in order to get a diagnosis.

Diagnosing and Treating an MCL Injury in Bloomsdale, MO

Diagnosing an MCL injury requires going to a doctor’s office, urgent care or at a physical therapy center. The examination will usually start with a doctor or physical therapist in Bloomsdale, MO asking how the injury occurred. They’ll then bend your knee and apply slight pressure to the outside of it, noting your pain level and whether or not your knee is unstable. They’ll also gently feel for swelling, and may compare your injured knee to the healthy one.

Most physical therapists or doctors that specialize in mobility of the human body in Bloomsdale, MO are qualified to determine if you have an MCL injury with the above procedures. Other tests to check severity or to confirm may include:

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which uses a magnet and computer-generated radio waves to produce detailed images of your soft tissue
An ultrasound, which uses sound waves and can be helpful in checking the severity of your injury
An X-ray, which does not show soft tissue, to insure your femur, kneecap, tibia, and fibula have not fractured

Alternatively, you can schedule and appointment with the Axes location nearest you for a complimentary, no-obligation injury screening. While we can offer you an evaluation, Missouri law requires a prescription for further physical therapy.

How to Treat and MCL Injury in Bloomsdale, MO

The initial treatment of an MCL injury consists of basic first aid: inflammation reduction, easing pain, and implementing the R.I.C.E. Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. For sprains or slight tears, the R.I.C.E method, pain and swelling relievers, and a few days or week or two of rest may be enough for your body’s natural healing processes to get you back on your feet.

Professional physical therapy is needed for more severe tears to restore strength and function and get you back to the activities you love. You’ll also need time of limited activity to allow your body to heal safely. Your Axes physical therapist in Bloomsdale, MO will be able to fit you for a knee brace to give your knee stability while it’s healing. With physical therapy, you’ll still continue icing your knee and taking anti-inflammatory pain medication.

Though rare, the most severe cases — in which the MCL is completely torn, the injury is accompanied by an ACL tear, or you are not recovering after several weeks of nonsurgical treatment — may require surgery. During the surgery, a surgeon will use a graft, either from one of your other ligaments or from another person, to reattach the torn sections. The surgery is an outpatient procedure. If you do require surgery in Bloomsdale, MO, our physical therapists are experts at pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation get you the best possible results from your surgery.

How Can Physical Therapy in Bloomsdale, MO Treat My MCL Injury?

For recovering from any injury, a physically therapist will design safe and evidence-backed exercises, each aimed at helping a specific part of the body get back to optimal movement health. These treatments and exercises will, over time, build strength in the strength in the muscles that power the knee, flexibility of soft tissue, and range of motion to the joint so you can get back to what you love most and prevent further injury. A physical therapist may recommend and implement the following practices:

To begin, passive movements performed by your physical therapist to help restore normal functionality
Exercised performed by you later to further develop strength and flexibility
Exercises with resistant bands, weight lifting equipment, or cardio machines such as treadmill
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, which studies show can accelerate knee ligament healing
Kinesio Taping®, which provides further stability while your body heals and helps control motion
Trigger point dry needling to further help the body’s natural healing process
Blood flow restriction training to improve strength while lessening stress on the joint
Athletic training and sports therapy for athletes who want to improve their performance

At Axes Physical Therapy in Bloomsdale, MO, all of our treatment plans are as unique as each patient, and created with the help of your doctor, in order to get you the best patient outcome possible and get you back to the activities you love.

Other conditions we help treat in Bloomsdale, MO include:

MCL Injury Bloomsdale, MO | Athletic Training | Sports Training | Physical Therapy Near Bloomsdale

Schedule an Appointment With an Axes Physical Therapist in Bloomsdale, MO for Your MCL Injury

An MCL injury is scary and anxiety-inducing at first, especially if you’re an athlete, but there’s no reason it has to put you on the sideline forever. We know you place a lot of trust in your physical therapists, so the treatment method we plan for you will be safe and backed by evidence. As part of our program, we’ll educate you on your injury and the anatomy of the knee so you can stay as healthy and active as possible. For meaningful and lasting recovery from your MCL injury in Bloomsdale, MO, call the location nearest you and request an appointment online.