MCL Injury Old Monroe, MO | Sports Rehab

MCL Injury | Old Monroe, MO Physical Therapy

MCL Injury in Old Monroe, MO. For many people who maintain an active lifestyle, feeling that sudden “pop” in their knee creates a lot of anxiety: Did I injure my MCL? How bad is the injury? How long will I be sidelines for? Will this be the end of my athletic career? At Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, MO, we are driven by getting our patients back to tearing up the filed. While we can’t, we can help ensure you get back to feeling like yourself with safe, effective treatments. Physical therapy has proven to be an integral part of recovering from any MCL injury. Our physical therapists in Old Monroe, MO specialize helping a variety of injuries and conditions in the musculoskeletal system heal. For lasting and meaningful recovery, reach out to the Axes location most convenient for you you or contact us online.

What is the MCL?

MCL is an abbreviation for “medial collateral ligament.” A ligament is like a strong, firmly attached rope that connects bones to each other and keeps joints stable. 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 functions to resist valgus pressure, or the knee being pushed unnaturally towards the other one. It is one of four ligaments in the knee, along with the:

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), which runs down the center of your knee and controls rotation and prevents the knee from bending inward
PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), which forms an “X” with the ACL in the middle of the knee and controls backward movement
LCL (lateral collateral ligament), which runs along the outside of the knee from the thigh bone to the fibula (the smaller bone between the knee and ankle) and provides stability to the outer knee

The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body. It depends on surrounding bone and muscle, and the tendons and ligaments in order to provide stability and function properly. There are numerous knee injuries that can have tremendous consequences for your mobility and pursue the activities you love most, or just live a pain-free day-to-day life. Certain physical therapy techniques and other physician-prescribed treatment plans have been demonstrated through research and studies to help patients manage their symptoms and get back to normal functionality.

MCL Injury Old Monroe, MO | Sports Rehab | Injury Prevention | Physical Therapy Near Old Monroe

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. MCL injuries are “graded” in three tiers:

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 your knee largely remains stable. Symptoms will likely be tenderness and mild pain.
Grade 2 — This injury is when the MCL suffers more significant tearing, usually to the more fibrous part of the ligament. Your knee will be slightly unstable, and the knee will likely be loose when moved by hand. 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 retain little to no stability. Pain will be intense and you’ll likely feel a wide array of symptoms. Grade 3 MCL injuries often occur alongside other knee injuries such as ACL tears.

However significant your MCL injuries, our licensed Old Monroe, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes can, in concert with your physician, create a comprehensive and personalized plan aimed at returning you to the life you’re used to in a safe and effective manner.

What Causes MCL Injuries?

Ligament injuries account for 40% of all knee injuries, and the MCL is the most commonly injured ligament. Most people often suffer and MCL injury because of physical trauma on the outer edge of the knee. MCL injuries can also occur if the knee is rotated more than the ligament can support. They can also occur because of landing or awkward bending, such as if a cleat is stuck in grass while you’re moving.

MCL injuries usually occur athletes in contact sports and in activities that require a lot of cutting and jumping 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

If you suffer an MCL injury in Old Monroe, MO, you’ll probably notice the pain right away. Other symptoms may include:

A sudden “pop” on the inside of your knee
Instability
Pain or discomfort when trying to bear weight
Bruising
Tenderness where the MCL is located
Inflammation, either of the MCL area or the entire knee joint

Sometimes you may feel a “wobbly” sensation, or in other cases the knee feels too stiff. Any time you feel pain or instability in your knee, do not participate in any more strenuous activity and seek medical treatment for a diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of an MCL Injury in Old Monroe, MO

MCL injuries are diagnosed in a doctor’s office, emergency room or at a physical therapy center. In the examination, your Old Monroe, MO doctor or physical therapist will go over how the injury occurred, will feel for swelling and how your knee is different from your healthy knee, and perform a valgus stress test.

Most physical therapists or doctors that specialize in the musculoskeletal system in Old Monroe, MO are qualified to diagnose 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 radio waves to take detailed images of the knee joint
An ultrasound, which uses sound waves and can help determine how severely the MCL is torn
An X-ray, which, while it won’t show the MCL or other ligaments, to insure your femur, patella, tibia, and fibula have not fractured

You can also visit the Axes location nearest you for a free, no-obligation injury screening. While we can determine if you have suffered an MCL sprain or tear, Missouri law stipulates a prescription for further physical therapy.

How MCL Injuries are Treated in Old Monroe, MO

Typically, treating an MCL injury begins with basic first aid: inflammation reduction, reducing discomfort, and utilizing the R.I.C.E. Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. For mild injuries, the R.I.C.E method, pain and swelling relievers, and a few days or week or two of rest may be all you need for your body to heal itself.

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 strenuous until your knee is strong again. Your Axes physical therapist in Old Monroe, MO will be able to fit you for a knee brace so that you don’t suffer further injury. With physical therapy, you’ll still continue icing your knee and taking anti-inflammatory pain medication.

Though uncommon, 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 an organ donor, to reconstruct the MCL. You would be able to go home the day of the surgery. If your doctor thinks surgery is necessary, our physical therapists specialize in pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, which ensures that your knee will be healthy enough for the surgery, and you’ll build back strength safely after the surgery.

How Do Physical Therapists in Old Monroe, MO Treat MCL Injuries?

The objective of physical therapy, when dealing with any injury, is to create safe, effective, and evidence-backed treatment methods based on each patient’s specific injury and the lifestyle they want to get back to. Physical therapy slowly and effectively improves strength in the strength in the muscles that power the knee, 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:

At the start, light motions carried about by your physical therapist to help restore normal functionality
Exercised performed by you later to regain strength
Exercises with elastic bands, weights, or cardio machines such as an elliptical
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, which studies show can accelerate knee ligament healing
Kinesio Taping®, which keeps the knee stable and encourages normal motion
Trigger point dry needling to stimulate harder-to-reach tissue
Blood flow restriction training to help you make greater strength gains while lifting lighter weights
Athletic training and sports therapy for athletes who want to reduce the risk of reinjury

At Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, MO, all of our treatment plans are designed individually to each patient, proven through peer-reviewed research, and created in concert with your doctor, in order to get you the best patient outcome possible and get you back to the activities you love.

Other services we offer in Old Monroe, MO include:

MCL Injury Old Monroe, MO | Athletic Training | Sports Training | Physical Therapy Near Old Monroe

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

An MCL injury is scary and anxiety-inducing at first, especially if you’re an athlete or someone who finds joy in an active lifestyle, 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 Old Monroe, MO, call the location nearest you and request an appointment online.