MCL tear of the knee: Injury, diagnosis, treatment

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One of the most common knee injuries in contact and collision sports is a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. This is a ligament on the medial (side closest to the midline) side of your knee that provides stability against side-to-side stress to the knee. You might injure it by cutting maneuvers in sports like soccer or hockey. You can also suffer an MCL injury if another player hits you on the outside of your knee.

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Unlike tears of the ACL, MCL injuries most often heal without surgery. You might need to wear a hinged knee brace for 2-6 weeks. The length of time you miss from sports or exercise varies depending on the location and severity of the injury.

In this video, I share my thoughts on the nature of an MCL injury, the diagnosis, the treatment options and return to sports.

Please remember, while I appreciate your questions, I cannot and will not offer specific medical advice by email, online, on my show, or in the comments at the end of these posts. My responses are meant to provide general medical information and education. Please consult your physician or health care provider for your specific medical concerns.