The medial collateral ligament, or MCL, is one of the most important ligaments of your knee. It provides stability and prevents excessive twisting. MCL injuries are relatively common and many times do not require surgical repair. Resting your knee and doing prescribed physical therapy exercises can help your knee return back to full strength.
Recovery Time
Your recovery time for your MCL depends on the severity of your injury. The University of California at San Francisco reports that a grade one injury to your MCL can take as little as a few days to a couple of weeks to repair. A grade two tear can take up to four weeks to heal and a grade three tear can take up to eight weeks. In some grade three cases, your ACL may be damaged and require even longer recovery time.
Treatment
Resting your knee is an important component of your MCL recovery. Other treatment options for your MCL may include ice or heat therapy, soft tissue massage, taping, bracing and anti-inflammatory medications. With more serious MCL injuries your doctor may recommend an MRI scan to see if surgical repair is necessary. In addition to these treatment options, your doctor or physical therapist will prescribe exercises to help maintain and develop knee and leg strength.
Exercises
The Sports Medicine Institute at the University of Minnesota reports that once the swelling in your knee decreases you should start with rehabilitation exercises. One recommended exercise is tightening your quadriceps while your leg is straight out in front of you. Tightening and holding your quadriceps for six to eight seconds a certain number of times can help prevent muscle weakness. Once you are able to bend your knee, the Sports Medicine Institute recommends cycling on an exercise bike. Work your way up to 20 minutes with no resistance and then gradually add more resistance, as directed by your therapist.
Considerations
Always follow your doctor or physical therapist's instructions to make sure your MCL injury correctly heals. Physioadvisor.com reports that pushing through the pain of a knee injury can worsen your symptoms and lead to your condition becoming a chronic problem. Participate in activities and exercise prescribed by your care provider and return to full activity only when directed to do so.
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