Because they can sideline an athlete for anywhere from two weeks to a year or more, knee ligament injuries are a particularly dreaded sports injury. Injuries to the knee joint are common in a wide spectrum of sports: hockey, football, judo, downhill skiing, soccer, skateboarding, basketball, and wrestling just to name a few. However, armed with the knowledge of a sports injury specialist and a strong knee injury treatment program, one can reasonably expect to return to activity after even a severe knee injury.
Structure of the Knee Joint
The knee joint is held together by four ligaments: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The ACL and PCL travel diagonally through the knee joint from front to back, crossing each other roughly at the middle of the joint, and the MCL and LCL support the knee joint on the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) sides of the knee, respectively.
Common Knee Injuries
Since the ligaments of the knee joint are relatively delicate in relation to the forces of impact and torsion that sports put on the knee, torn ligaments are common knee injuries. Knee ligament injuries are grouped according to severity. First-degree (or partial) tears are longitudinal tears where the ligament is still intact. Second-degree tears are also partial tears, although more severe. Third-degree tears involve a complete tear of the ligament.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs through the centre of the joint and is the knee’s main stabilizer. For this reason, an anterior cruciate ligament injury is considered very serious. An athlete who suffers a third-degree (complete) tear of hisr ACL will require surgery to rebuild the ligament and will often have to follow a dedicated rehabilitation program for a year or more before returning to his regular activities.
MCL Knee Injury
Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears occur when the knee joint is subjected to an impact from the outside, such as a football tackle. While often very painful, an MCL injury is not as debilitating as an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Reconstructive knee surgery is rarely used after an MCL tear because adequate joint stability can often be attained by strengthening the surrounding muscles.
LCL and PCL Tears
Injuries to the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are less common than MCL and ACL injuries. PCL tears, in particular, are uncommon in sports, usually resulting from a serious event such as a car accident. Similar to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, a PCL tear results in a loss of stability and is usually repaired surgically. LCL tears are similar in severity to MCL tears and aren’t often corrected with surgery.
Consult a Sports Injury Specialist to Ensure Proper Rehabilitation
As with all sports injuries, it’s best to consult a skilled sports injury specialist when dealing with a knee ligament injury. A physiotherapist or sports medicine professional who is experienced in knee ligament injury treatment will be able to put together a specialized program of stretches and strengthening exercises that will stabilize the knee joint, get the athlete back to their sport, and protect the knee ligaments from future injury.
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