Ligament injuries

Ligaments connect one bone to another bone. They are tough pieces of fibrous tissue that support and stabilize your knee. Your knee has four major ligaments. Two cruciate ligaments provide front-to-back stability; they are made up of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Two collateral ligaments provide side-to-side stability. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is on the inside of your knee; the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is found on the outside of your knee.

Ligament injuries often occur with sports-related activity such as pivoting, jumping or stopping quickly. They also can occur from events, such as falls or other accidents. Pain from the initial injury may go away, but the joint may subsequently feel unstable or give out.

Symptoms

• Possible popping noise at time of injury
• Pain, difficulty bearing weight
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Feelings of instability

Treatments

• Self-care. Your doctor may suggest rest, ice, elevation and applying compression to your injured knee.
• Physical therapy. Certified physical therapists can create a program specific to your needs to maximize function, strength and mobility.
• Braces. A variety of braces can help provide support.
• Surgery. Depending on the severity and type of ligament injury you have, surgery may be recommended. Sometimes the damaged ligament can be repaired. Other times it needs to be reconstructed, a procedure where a substitute for the damaged ligament is used to create a new ligament.

Consult your doctor about specific treatment options. For more information, call 952-993-3230.