The medial collateral ligament, or MCL, and lateral collateral ligament, or LCL, both connect the femur to the tibia. The MCL is in the inner side of the knee while the LCL is in the outer side of the knee. Both work together with other ligaments, tendons and connective tissues in the knee joint to stabilize and support the leg and knee.
Causes
MCL injuries occur more often than LCL injuries because most injuries are caused by a blow to the outer knee, causing the MCL to tear, according to athletic training professor Daniel Arnheim, co-author of "Essentials of Athletic Training." This happens mostly in contact sports, such as football, mixed martial arts and hockey. MCL and LCL inflammation and pain can occur if you place excessive stress upon the knee from improper gait pattern or stiff hips and ankles.
Treatment
Severe tears of the MCL or LCL ligaments require arthroscopic surgery to repair and rebuild the ligaments and to remove loose debris in the knee, according to Arnheim. If the injury is not severe enough to warrant surgery, then physical therapy can help strengthen the joint as well as improve mobility in the hip and ankle joints. If you suffer from severe pain, then your physician may prescribe medications to alleviate pain along with resting and icing the injured area for no more than 20 minutes per treatment.
Prevention
You can minimize the risk of non-contact MCL and LCL injuries by improving your range of motion in your hips and ankles. If those joints do not have optimal range of motion, then your knee has to compensate for their lack of movement, according to physical therapist Gray Cook, author of "Movement." For example, stiff hips reduce your ability to rotate when you need to change direction when you run or walk. Thus, your knee has to rotate in order to turn. Since your knee moves primarily in one direction, which is flexion and extension, the MCL or LCL can strain and tear from the rotational force. Cook suggests that you strengthen and improve mobility in your ankles and hips before strengthening the knee joint and leg.
Prevention
Trigger points in the upper and lower legs can cause movement limitations to your hip, knee and ankle joints. Before you stretch or strength train, perform self-myofascial release, or SMR, to release the trigger points to improve tissue elasticity and blood flow, according to the National Academy of Sports Medicine. You may use a foam roller or a massage stick to work on the outer and inner thighs, calves, quadriceps and buttocks. In any method, place pressure upon the tissues until you find a trigger point. Gently rub the area until the pain goes away, and move on to the next tender spot. Then proceed to stretching the leg and hip joints.
References
- "NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training"; Michael Clark; 2007
- "Essentials of Athletic Training"; Daniel Arnheim; 2001
- "Movement"; Gray Cook; 2010
