Toll Free 1-877-626-4500
Quick Links Home
The Need For Speed
It is critically important to apply ice and compression immediately after an injury. Studies show that recovery from an injury is directly related to how soon ice and compression are applied. More Ice Therapy facts »
Treatment of medial collateral ligament injuries
Category: RICES
Nov 3, 2007
Question: I was recently involved in a twisting injury along the boards in Captain’s practice. I was told that I have a Grade II MCL tear. What can I do to get back to the ice for my high school tryouts?
Answer: It appears that you have partially torn the medial collateral ligament, also called the MCL. Luckily, most people who injure their medial collateral ligament have a complete recovery once they have been properly rehabilitated. The MCL is one of the strongest ligaments in the body. It is most commonly injured when an athlete sustains a direct contact injury to the outside of their knee which stresses and ultimately tears the ligaments on the inside of the knee.
Injuries to the MCL are graded I, II and III. Grade I injuries are mild sprains, while grade II are partial tears to the MCL. Complete tears to the MCL are grade III. While the majority of the athletes who sustain MCL injuries do not require surgery, occasionally some athletes with a grade III MCL tear may need surgery if they do not go on to heal.
Our treatment protocol for these injuries at the University of Minnesota Sports Medicine Institute has been developed based upon basic research and the results that we have seen in our athletes. As with any initial injury, the initial treatment consists of a RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). It is essential to get the swelling in your knee joint down as soon as possible, as this allows a quick return to activity. Ice, applied approximately 20 minutes out of each hour, is important within the first 48 hours of injury because it makes the diameter of the blood vessels shrink so there is less swelling in the injured area. A compression wrap will also help to decrease swelling. In addition, we occasionally use a hinged knee brace for these injuries to provide some stability to the healing ligament in some athletes.
Read the complete article