The Complete Guide to Shin Splints
Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), is a…
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee.1 The MCL consists of an outer layer (called the superficial portion) and an inner layer (called the deep portion). The superficial fibers of the MCL are orientated vertically and mainly control medial forces (known as valgus stress) to the knee. The deep fibers of the ligament primarily resist internal rotation forces of the knee. The deep fibers also have connections with the medial meniscus. Between the superficial and deep portions of this ligament lies the MCL bursa.
The inner knee also gets dynamic stability from the muscles surrounding that area, including the gracilis, semitendinosus and sartorius muscles.
An MCL sprain occurs when the forces applied to the knee exceed the load capacity of the ligament, leading to damage and potentially instability.
A large force to the outer aspect of the knee, especially with the foot planted on the ground and combined with external rotation of the lower leg, creates an inwards force on the knee (called valgus). Typically this occurs with the knee in a slightly bent position (~30 degrees of knee flexion).
An MCL tear is diagnosed primarily based on clinical signs such as joint laxity, localized pain and swelling at the medial knee, a plausible traumatic injury mechanism, and positive clinical tests. These tests include the valgus stress test and the dial test.
Grade 1
Injury has occurred but no instability is present. These typically recover within 7-10 days.
Grade 2
Injury includes partial fiber disruption (typically of the superficial fibers), mild instability and localized pain may be present. With accelerated rehab, these can take a minimum of 6-8 weeks.
Grade 3
Complete disruption of the MCL, which may include multiple layers (superficial and deep). In the majority of cases, other structures such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or meniscus may be injured alongside a grade 3 MCL sprain.2
Fortunately, the medial collateral ligament tends to heal well due to an adequate blood supply to the region.1
In most cases, the clinical exam findings are sufficient to guide an effective therapy program. If your therapist finds excessive laxity or pain, or suspects involvement of other knee structures, an MRI may be useful. This can help guide treatment decisions and can alter recovery timelines. An x-ray can be useful in chronic medial knee pain, which can help rule out conditions such as Pellegrini-Srieda Syndrome or multi-ligamentous injury.
In general, early protection is important followed by an accelerated rehab program depending on the individual. This may include the use of crutches and a rigid knee brace that limits the end ranges of your knee extension, flexion, rotation, and valgus. In our experience, rehab can usually progress quicker when only the deep fibers of the MCL are involved.
Depending on the severity of the sprain, the management of an MCL sprain follows four phases:
The main goal is to safely return you to your sport or activities. From your therapist’s perspective, we are concerned with:
While the MCL heals well, it is important to seek proper care immediately following a suspected medial knee injury to prevent long-term issues such as instability. A well-designed rehabilitation program can help the majority of people successfully recover from an MCL sprain.
