MCL Injury Park Hills, MO | Sports Rehab

MCL Injury | Park Hills, MO Physical Therapy

MCL Injury in Park Hills, 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? How bad is the injury? How long will it take to recover? Will I ever be able to perform at the same level again? At Axes Physical Therapy in Park Hills, 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 make your recovery safe and effective through tailored, proven treatment plans. Physical therapy has been shown time and time again to be a fundamental aspect of any treatment plan for MCL injuries. Our physical therapists in Park Hills, MO are movement health experts. For treatment plans you know will be effective, reach out to the Axes location most convenient for you you or request an appointment online.

What is the MCL?

MCL stands for “medial collateral ligament.” A ligament is a tough band of connective tissue that connects bones to each other and helps hold structures with the musculoskeletal system together. The MCL runs from the inside of your upper shin bone to the inside of your bottoms thigh bone and maintains stability in the inner knee. Its functions to guard against valgus pressure, or the knee being pushed unnaturally towards the other one. It combines with three other ligaments to keep the knee stable:

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), which runs down the center of your knee and controls rotation and controls forward movement
PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), which forms an “X” with the ACL inside the knee and controls backward movement
LCL (lateral collateral ligament), which connects the thigh bone to the fibula (the smaller bone in the lower leg) and helps keep the outer side of your knee joint stable

The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body. Optimal structure and function depends on surrounding bone, muscle, tendons, and ligaments. There are a variety of knee injuries that can greatly affect your mobility and compete like you’re used to, or just live a pain-free day-to-day life. Specific physical therapy techniques and other physician-prescribed treatment plans have been proven to help those who have suffered an MCL injury reduce pain and return to optimal functionality.

MCL Injury Park Hills, MO | Sports Rehab | Injury Prevention | Physical Therapy Near Park Hills

What Types of MCL Injuries Are There?

For all intents and purposes, an MCL injury either involves a sprain, which stretches the ligament farther than is naturally, or a tear, where the MCL may fray partially or entirely separate 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. It’s typically a mild injury, and don’t result in much instability. Your knee will feel tender, and you may also experience soreness.
Grade 2 — This is more significant tearing, most commonly to the middle layer of the ligament. You will probably lose some stability in the joint, and your joint may be loose when moved by hand. Pain is much more severe in a grade 2 MCL injury.
Grade 3 — This occurs when your MCL is entirely torn, both the superficial and deep parts. You will retain little to no stability. You will likely experience significant pain and several other 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 expert Park Hills, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes can, in concert with your doctor, implement an extensive and tailored plan to get you back to the activities your love most safely.

MCL Injuries: Causes and Symptoms

40% of all knee injuries involve damage to a ligament, and the MCL is the most commonly injured ligament. People often suffer and MCL injury because of the knee suddenly being forced too far inward. MCL injuries can also by the knee rotating more than the ligament can support. They can also take place when landing or excessive bending, such as if your foot stays in one place while the rest of your body moves.

Athletes in contact sports are the most likely to sustain an MCL injury. They are also common in those who lift weights or lift heavy objects at their work.

Common Symptoms of MCL Injuries

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

Hearing or feeling a popping noise or feeling
The knee being unstable
Not being able to put any weight on the knee
Bruising
Tenderness where the MCL is located
Swelling, either of the MCL area or the whole knee

Sometimes you may feel like your knee is “shaky”, while other times you’ll barely be able to move the knee. Any time you feel pain or instability in your knee, stop any strenuous activity immediately and seek medical treatment for a diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of an MCL Injury in Park Hills, MO

MCL injuries are diagnosed in a doctor’s office, emergency room or at a physical therapy center. The examination will usually start with a doctor or physical therapist in Park Hills, 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 doctors with knowledge of movement health in Park Hills, 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 magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of your knee
An ultrasound, which uses sound waves and can help determine the grade of your injury
An X-ray, which does not show soft tissue, to insure your femur, patella, tibia, and fibula have not fractured

Alternatively, you can schedule and appointment with the Axes location nearest you for a complimentary, no-risk injury screening. While we will be able to diagnose your injury, Missouri Revised Statute §334.506 mandates that physical therapy be prescribed by a doctor.

How MCL Injuries are Treated in Park Hills, MO

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

Professional physical therapy is needed for grade 2 and 3 tears to restore strength and function and get you back to the activities you love. You’ll also need time off your feet to allow your body to heal safely. Your Axes physical therapist in Park Hills, MO can fit you for a knee brace in order to prevent your knee from bending too far inward while your MCL is still healing. With physical therapy, you’ll still continue icing your knee and taking anti-inflammatory pain medication.

Though uncommon, the worst grade 1 tears — 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 reconstruct the MCL. You would be able to go home the day of the surgery. If you do require surgery in Park Hills, MO, our physical therapists specialize in pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation get you the best possible results from your surgery.

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

The aim of physical therapy, when dealing with any injury, is to design safe, effective, and evidence-backed treatment methods based on each patient as an individual. These treatments and exercises will, over time, build strength in the strength in the muscles that power the joint, flexibility of soft tissue, and range of motion to the joint in the interest of not only recovery, but injury prevention. A physical therapist may recommend and implement the following practices:

To begin, light motions performed by your physical therapist to slowly get the joint used to normal motion again
More active exercises and stretches later to further develop strength and flexibility
Exercises with elastic bands, weights, or cardio machines such as a stationary bike
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, which has been proven to help accelerate knee ligament healing
Kinesio Taping®, which provides further stability while your body heals and helps control motion
Trigger point dry needling to stimulate harder-to-reach tissue
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 Park Hills, MO, all of our treatment plans are designed specifically for you, backed by empirical evidence, and created alongside your doctor, in order to get you the best patient outcome possible and get you back to doing what you love to do most.

Other services we offer in Park Hills, MO include:

MCL Injury Park Hills, MO | Athletic Training | Sports Training | Physical Therapy Near Park Hills

Call an Axes Physical Therapist in Park Hills, 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 with our help, the ailment is only temporary. We know our clients trust us with their recovery, 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 structures of the knee so you can stay as healthy and active as possible. For meaningful and lasting recovery from your MCL injury in Park Hills, MO, call the location nearest you and request an appointment online.