| The Medial Collateral Ligament or the MCL is one of | | | | be used to reduce the pain and swelling by providing |
| the two important collateral ligaments. It is located on | | | | cold water and compression for six hours. This |
| the inside of the knee joint and associates the femur | | | | method is used for home treatment. |
| or thighbone with the shinbone or the tibia. | | | | The last is elevation, which means that your knee |
| The MCL may get torn when the knee is bent in a | | | | should be elevated. |
| wrong way while landing or when something hard hits | | | | However, if over 10 percent of tissues have been |
| the knee forcefully. This type of injury usually occurs | | | | damaged, then rehabilitation under the supervision of |
| mostly when one is engaged in skiing and American | | | | a licensed physiotherapist may be required to |
| football. In American football, the guards and center | | | | prevent the recurrence of the injury. When the MCL |
| players get this injury because of their cleats, a US | | | | is completely torn and other ligaments are also |
| boot that is worn before playing football and baseball. | | | | injured, surgery may be recommended. Arthroscopic |
| To reduce the number of MCL injuries, companies are | | | | surgery may also be required in cases of serious |
| now trying to develop better cleats. | | | | injuries. It uses a camera placed in the knee to enable |
| According to sports doctors, the PRICE protocol | | | | the surgeons to view the damaged structures |
| should be followed immediately after an injury occurs. | | | | directly. |
| PRICE stands for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, | | | | Most of the patients who have this kind of injury are |
| and Elevation. For protection, use cohesive bandages. | | | | asked to use a knee brace for support and to limit |
| These bandages stick to themselves and help in | | | | the knee's movements. |
| reducing the swelling. Rest is highly recommended as | | | | After injury the patient may feel weakness; it is |
| well; avoid engaging in any sports activity while still | | | | normal. He can perform proprioception exercises while |
| injured. | | | | recovering; it will help in healing the injury soon. |
| Ice packs should also be used for twenty minutes | | | | Wobble Board is a tool that can be used at home to |
| after the injury, and repeated after every six hours. | | | | continue proprioception exercises. |
| It will cool down the tissues which will reduce the pain | | | | Do not try to diagnose the injury or heal the pain or |
| and prevent further damage to the tissues. Air cast | | | | swelling by yourself. In case of any injury to your |
| Knee Cryo/Cuff is a method for ice therapy and can | | | | knee, immediately consult your physician. |