MCL Injury Hoene Spring, MO | Sports Rehab

MCL Injury | Hoene Spring, MO Physical Therapy

MCL Injury in Hoene Spring, MO. For many people who maintain an active lifestyle, it’s easy to fear the worst when you hear that sudden “pop” in your knee: Did I suffer an MCL injury? How bad is the injury? How long will it take to recover? Will I have to permanently give up the things I love doing? At Axes Physical Therapy in Hoene Spring, MO, all of our physical and occupational therapists are committed to positive patient experiences. While we’d like to be able to magically fix your MCL, we can make your recovery safe and effective through personalized, evidence-based treatment plans. Physical therapy has been shown time and time again to be a fundamental component of recovering from any MCL injury. Our physical therapists in Hoene Spring, MO are all licensed and average more than 15 years of individual experience. For lasting and meaningful recovery, call the Axes location nearest you or request 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 affixes 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 helps keep your knee stable and moving normally. Its main purpose is to resist valgus pressure, or the knee being pushed too far inward. It is one of four ligaments that help keep the knee stable, along with the:

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), which goes through the middle of your knee and provides rotational stability and controls forward movement
PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), which forms an “X” with the ACL in the middle of the knee and the femur from sliding off the tibia
LCL (lateral collateral ligament), which connects the femur to the fibula (the smaller bone in the lower leg) and helps keep the outer side of your knee joint stable

The knee is known for being one of our most complex joints. It depends on surrounding bone and muscle, and the tendons and ligaments in order to provide support and function properly. There are numerous knee injuries that can limit or completely restrict your mobility and ability to do what you love most, or just get around the house pain-free. Specific physical therapy techniques and other treatment modalities, prescribed by a doctor, have been proven to help patients mitigate pain and swelling and return to optimal movement health.

MCL Injury Hoene Spring, MO | Sports Rehab | Injury Prevention | Physical Therapy Near Hoene Spring

What Types of MCL Injuries Are There?

For all intents and purposes, an MCL injury is either a sprain, wherein the MCL extends beyond its normal range of motion, or a tear, where the MCL is either partially or completely torn or separated from the bone. There are three grades to MCL injuries:

Grade 1 — A grade 1 MCL injury refers to a sprain, or a tear where less than 10% of the the fibers in your MCL are torn. These injuries are typically not especially painful or debilitating, and your knee largely remains stable. Your knee will feel tender, and you may also experience mild pain.
Grade 2 — This injury is when the MCL suffers more significant tearing, usually to the more fibrous part of the MCL. Your knee will be slightly unstable, and your joint may be loose when manipulated manually. Symptoms of a grade 2 MCL injury generally include much more noticeable pain.
Grade 3 — A grade 3 tear is a complete tear, or separation from the bone. You will likely feel like your knee’s about to “give out.” You will likely experience intense pain and a wide array of symptoms. The injury may actually caused by or accompanied by other serious knee injuries such as ACL tears.

However significant your MCL injuries, the team of licensed Hoene Spring, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes can, alongside your doctor, implement an extensive plan specially made for you and your injuries aimed at returning you to the life you’re used to in a safe and effective manner.

How Do MCL Injuries Occur?

Ligament injuries account for 40% of all knee injuries, and most of the time that ligament is the MCL. Most people often suffer and MCL injury because of a force to the outer edge of the knee. MCL injuries can also occur if the knee is rotated too forcefully. They can also happen because of landing or unnatural bending, such as if a cleat is stuck in grass while the rest of your body moves.

MCL injuries usually occur athletes in contact sports and in athletic events that require a lot of torque being placed on the body such as football, soccer, skiing, basketball, and tennis. They can also occur in people who lift weights or lift heavy objects at their employment.

Common Symptoms of MCL Injuries

Most MCL injuries are accompanied by immediate, noticeable pain. Other symptoms may include:

A sudden “pop” on the inside of your knee
Feeling like the may buckle
Not being able to put any weight on the knee
Bruising
Tenderness on the inside of your knee
Inflammation, either on the inside of the knee or the entire knee joint

Sometimes you may feel a “wobbly” sensation, while other times you’ll barely be able to move the knee. Any time you feel pain or instability in your knee, cease any strenuous activity immediately and schedule a physical examination in order to get a diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of an MCL Injury in Hoene Spring, MO

MCL injuries are diagnosed in a physical examination. The exam will usually start with a doctor or physical therapist in Hoene Spring, MO asking how the injury occurred. They’ll then bend your knee and apply slight pressure to the outside of it, noting how much pain you are in 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 physicians that specialize in mobility of the human body in Hoene Spring, 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 magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of your knee
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 been broken

You can also schedule and appointment with the Axes location nearest you for a complimentary, no-risk injury screening. While we can determine if you have suffered an MCL sprain or tear, Missouri law stipulates a prescription in order to officially begin physical therapy treatment.

How to Treat and MCL Injury in Hoene Spring, MO

Typically, treating an MCL injury begins with basic first aid: swelling reduction, reducing discomfort, and using 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 sufficient for your body’s natural healing processes to get you back on your feet.

Professional physical therapy is needed for more severe injuries to restore strength and function and get you back to racing down or around the court or field. You’ll also need to refrain from rigorous until your knee is strong again. Your Axes physical therapist in Hoene Spring, 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.

Surgery is typically only needed with severe grade 1 MCL injuries, or if the MCL tear is accompanied by an ACL tear or other damage to the joint. During the surgery, a surgeon will use a graft, either from one of your other ligaments or an organ donor, to reattach the torn sections. You would be able to go home the day of the surgery. If your doctor thinks surgery is necessary, our physical therapists are experts at pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation get you the best possible results from your surgery.

How Do Physical Therapists in Hoene Spring, MO Treat MCL Injuries?

The aim of physical therapy, when dealing with any injury, is to implement safe, targeted, and evidence-backed treatment methods based on each patient’s specific injury and the lifestyle they want to get back to. These treatments and exercises will, over time, build strength in the strength in the muscles that power the joint, flexibility of ligaments and tendons, and range of motion to the knee in the interest of not only recovery, but injury prevention. A physical therapist may recommend and implement the following practices:

To begin, light movements carried about by your physical therapist to slowly get the MCL used to normal motion again
More active exercises and stretches later to further develop strength and flexibility
Exercises with resistant bands, weights, or cardio machines such as treadmill
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, which research suggests can accelerate knee ligament healing
Kinesio Taping®, which keeps the knee stable and encourages normal function
Trigger point dry needling to further help the body’s natural healing process
Blood flow restriction training to help you make greater strength gains while lessening stress on the joint
Athletic training and sports therapy for athletes who want to improve their performance

At Axes Physical Therapy in Hoene Spring, MO, all of our treatment plans are designed individually to each patient, backed by empirical evidence, and created in concert with your physician, in order to get you the best patient outcome possible and get you back to doing what you love to do most.

Other conditions we help treat in Hoene Spring, MO include:

MCL Injury Hoene Spring, MO | Athletic Training | Sports Training | Physical Therapy Near Hoene Spring

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

An MCL injury can be painful and frightening, especially if you’re used to being physically active, but with our help, you can get back to how you used to feel. 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 how the knee works so you can stay as healthy and active as possible. For meaningful and lasting recovery from your MCL injury in Hoene Spring, MO, call the location nearest you and request an appointment online.