The knee joint is one of the body's most complicated joints. Ligaments help to ensure the stability of the knee joint and when their is an injury to one of them, you will probably start to have stability and pain problems as a result. - There are two cruciate ligaments and two collateral ligaments.
The two collateral ligaments are the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL). As their names imply, they are located in the inner and outer sides of the joint. The MCL binds the thighbone or the femur, and the shinbone (tibia). The Lateral Collateral Ligament and Medial Collateral Ligament work together.
There are three factors that can cause an MCL injury: contact injuries, non-contact injuries, and overuse injuries. Contact injuries include direct hit to the knee joint that can cause a ligament injury. Non-contact injuries include landing, running, and jumping in an awkward manner. Overuse injuries, on the other hand, include injuries occurring due to repetitive loads on the knee.
When one has an MCL injury, the patient may have pain or swelling. He or she may feel that the knee is giving out or is not stable. The intensity of these symptoms may differ with the severity of the injury.
Short-Term Self-Help Treatment & Long-Term Self-Help Treatment.
For immediate treatment after injury, medical personnel recommend R.I.C.E. Its first attribute is rest. Avoiding all weight-lifting and sports activities will allow the ligament to have rest that will help in healing the injury. The second step is to ice it. Placing ice on the injured area in the knee helps to reduce swelling and pain. You can apply ice by using Active Wrap Knee Hot/Cold Therapy.
The third is compression. You can apply bandages but keep it comfortable so that it will not disturb the blood circulation between the leg and the knee.
The last attribute is elevation; keeping your knee elevated will help in reducing the swelling.
For long-term treatment, the process of rehabilitation is suggested. Surgery is mostly recommended only if the injury is serious. Mostly, knee braces are used because they help in reducing the pain, and they also help to prevent the knee joint from further injuries, and letting the patient come back to his daily routine soon.
Considering a knee brace can greatly help out a person with an MCL injury to help promote healing and this conservative treatment option can be very helpful in promoting the future health of your knee.
This is medical information. It is not the same as medical advice. Speak to your physician for medical advice.
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