Exercise To Rehabilitate The Left Collateral Knee Ligament

Your knee joint has two collateral ligaments -- the medial collateral and lateral collateral ligaments, or MCL and LCL. The MCL holds your thigh and shin bones together while the LCL connects your thigh and fibula, which sits to the outside of your shin bone. Injury to one of these ligaments can cause pain, swelling and decreased mobility. Rehabilitation exercises for both ligaments are similar, although your doctor will devise an individual regimen to fit your specific injury.

Medial Collateral Ligament

Isolated medial collateral ligament, or MCL, tears are treated without surgery, according to Richard Stockton College. Rehabilitation of the MCL is dependent on the degree of injury, if there are other injuries to the knee, your age and the activities you perform. MCL rehabilitation often includes range of motion, gait, stability and open and closed chain kinetic exercises. Open chain exercises are those where your hand or foot is free to move, such as when performing a bicep curl. During a pushup or squat your hands and feet remain stationary; these are closed chain kinetic exercises.

Lateral Collateral Ligament

Injuries to the lateral collateral ligament, or LCL, are less common than those to the MCL and are not likely to involve a meniscal tear, which is the cartilagenous pad that cushions your bones. However, rehabilitation can take longer for an LCL than an MCL injury. Exercises for your LCL are similar to those recommended to strengthen your MCL. Your doctor will recommend various range-of-motion movements, stability and open or closed chain kinetic exercises. Some exercises you can begin immediately after injury or surgery while others can only be done after swelling and pain subside.

Gentle Knee Exercises

There are four knee exercises that are generally thought to be safe to perform immediately after surgery or injury. According to Summit Medical Group, passive knee extensions, heel slides, straight leg raises and prone knee bends are gentle, effective exercises that you can do anywhere at any time during the rehabilitation process. If you have trouble straightening your leg, passive knee extensions are an excellent exercise. Heel slides and prone knee bends will help you regain flexion in the knee joint, while straight leg raises strengthen the muscles around your knee.

Strengthening Exercises

Isometric knee extension and flexion movements are performed against an immobile force -- i.e., you try to extend or flex your leg against the wall or floor. Isometric exercises strengthen muscles while keeping your leg in one position, reducing the risk of injury. You can also perform a knee extension or flexion with a resistance band. Squats also target the leg muscles. Do these with an exercise ball or against a wall before adding weight. Using weight machines is also an option, but should only be done once you regain some strength and mobility. Your doctor also will recommend you gradually reintroduce aerobic activity, as well as balance and stability exercises, depending on your health and desired activity level.