Many physical therapists and doctors recommend walking as an exercise to help relieve pain and stiffness after an MCL sprain, mainly if it is a grade II sprain. The MCL helps support the knee, and it is important to walk as soon as possible after the injury. Walking is beneficial in the healing process of MCL sprains.
Can you strengthen the MCL?
Can you rehab a torn MCL?
MCL Injury Rehabilitation Considerations
The majority of MCL tears are isolated injuries and many times are treated non-operatively. With a proper MCL injury rehabilitation protocol, even a complete MCL tear should completely heal.
How do you make your MCL heal faster? – Related Questions
MCL tears usually heal well if they’re treated properly. Complications from MCL tears are rare. Most athletes who experience an MCL tear are able to return to their sport after their injury has healed.
Should you stretch a torn MCL?
three weeks after injury (grade 1)
weeks following injury, the pain is usually subsiding and the swelling is lessened. You can now try to stretch the knee to regain motion. Stationary cycle, swimming (flutter kick only) and the following exercise program are recommended.
How do I know if my MCL is healed?
In order to verify if the MCL is in fact still partially intact or completely torn, Dr. LaPrade will perform a valgus stress test with the knee out straight and with the knee flexed to 30°. This test will check to see if the medial knee gaps open to side-to-side stressing.
Why is my MCL not healing?
These types of tears also usually don’t heal on their own. This is because the torn and retracted MCL becomes trapped above the hamstrings tendons, and it cannot heal back down to the tibia (shin bone).
What should I avoid with a torn MCL?
Avoid using stair-stepper machines, doing deep knee bends and squats or any exercise that causes crunching, clicking or pain at the kneecap. Stand facing a table, using the table for balance and support. While standing on the unoperated limb bend the knee of the operated side and raise the heel toward the buttock.
What aggravates a torn MCL?
Rest & Immobilization: Once a MCL injury is diagnosed it is important that the affected area be rested immediately. Any further movement or stress will only aggravate the condition and prolong recovery. It is also important to keep the injured area as still as possible. Ice: By far the most important part.
We recommend starting physical therapy immediately after a grade 2 MCL sprain. At ReQuest Physical Therapy, our therapists will begin to guide improvement of knee motion, work to improve the strength and control of the thigh (quadriceps) muscle and improve hip strength.
Can I bend my knee with a torn MCL?
The knee may feel stiff, and a person may have difficulty straightening their leg or bending their knee. They may also find climbing the stairs or sitting in a chair challenging as this requires them to bend their knee. A torn MCL can affect the stability of the knee.
Do you need an MRI for a torn MCL?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the investigation of choice to confirm injury to knee ligaments, including the MCL [1]. Although an MRI is not 100% sensitive for detecting MCL injuries [2], surgeons can rely on its findings for a diagnosis in grade 3 MCL tears.
Can a MCL tear get worse?
While some symptoms occur immediately after injuring the MCL, such as swelling and tenderness, others may appear or get worse in the days following the injury, such as bruising. MCL injuries are acute and therefore typically not related to progressive knee conditions, such as osteoarthritis.
What happens if you leave an MCL tear untreated?
Treatment can wait and you can play through the pain, right? Not necessarily. Left untreated, a meniscus tear can limit your daily life and ability to participate in exercise and sports. In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis.
