In the news recently, you may have heard of a few elite sport stars suffering severe knee injuries.
Because of this, we thought we would dive a little deeper into a common type of knee injury known as an MCL injury.
MCL stands for Medial Collateral Ligament and is one of the knee’s four major ligaments. It is found on the medial (inner) side of the knee, hence its name. This ligament plays a crucial role in ensuring the stability of the knee joint. It’s core function is to resist any kind of ‘valgus’ force – when a part of the body is turned outward from the mid-line. This kind of force, that can happen for a variety of reasons, causes the ligament to overstretch and essentially become strained. In more severe cases, the ligament can snap entirely.
Examples of instances that could cause an MCL injury:
An MCL Injury at its worst is categorised as a grade III. Those who suffer a severe, grade III MCL injury have torn the ligament completely.
As a result, the knee joint becomes extremely unstable and doesn’t have the capacity to bear weight of any kind. Many sufferers also get the feeling of their knee about to collapse or ‘give out’. This is normal and expected just after the injury has occurred. Pain is often manageable and not too severe as the initial ligament tear has occurred and is now over. This complete snap of the ligament can cause excess swelling and bleeding under the skin, both of which are common signs of a grade III MCL injury.
It’s highly recommended for an experienced physiotherapist to fully rehabilitate an injury such as this, to ensure you can get back to pre-injury status and to return to normal activities as soon as possible. The total healing time for a grade III MCL injury is approximately 3-4 months. Physiotherapy is an absolute must for a great post-rehab outcome and a full return to usual activities, including sport.
A tailored rehabilitation plan with your experienced physiotherapist can involve the following in terms of treating your MCL injury:
Although most MCL Injuries can be managed effectively with a thorough rehabilitation plan by a physiotherapist, in the event that surgery is required, fantastic results are also achieved. If you would like to read a little more on how we rehabilitate knee injuries post-surgery, click here to a previous blog.
At Progressive Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy, our highly experienced team of physiotherapists have rehabilitated many patients successfully after sustaining an MCL injury. We offer the support and guidance you need to achieve your pre-injury status and to get on with life as soon as possible.
If you would like further information about our customised rehabilitation programs for MCL injuries, please feel free to contact the clinic today by calling (02) 4721 7798 or by emailing info@progressiverehab.com.au. You can also click here to book an initial consultation.
At Progressive Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Penrith, we are able to assess, treat, educate and manage all musculoskeletal injuries. We focus on hands-on treatment, exercise prescription and self management techniques tailored to your specific needs. We utilise evidence based treatments to maximise your outcomes.
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Elin, is an alumni of St. Edward’s University and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, furthered her academic journey by attaining a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Macquarie University in 2022.
Her passion for sports, particularly football (soccer), is evident in both her academic pursuits and personal endeavors. Specialising in the comprehensive well-being of athletes, Elin focuses on restoring them to peak performance while actively preventing future injuries.
Elin’s professional expertise is centered on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with a specific emphasis on addressing and preventing knee injuries. Her approach integrates expert treatment with a commitment to educating and empowering patients, fostering their active involvement in enhancing their health and overall quality of life.
As an active participant in NPL football with SD Raiders, Elin brings firsthand experience and a profound understanding of the sport’s demands. Beyond the field, she extends her influence by contributing sports coverage over the weekends.
Christopher (Chris) Han graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, and then completed the Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Macquarie University in 2018. Chris is currently undertaking his PhD at the University of Sydney and Institute for Musculoskeletal Health in the field of low back pain and is due to complete this in early 2024.
Chris is currently an assistant Physiotherapist for the NRL Referees. Chris has previous experience as the head Physiotherapist at Panthers Premier League Netball and a number of elite sporting athletes in the private setting.
Through Chris’ experiences, he has a particular interest in all areas of the body and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports, vestibular rehabilitation, and Men’s Health (pre and post prostate surgery).
Suzanne graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Science (Sports and Exercise Science) in 2015. She then went on to continue her studies at Macquarie University graduating from the Doctor of Physiotherapy post-graduate degree in June 2019.
Since graduating, Suzanne has worked in the local Penrith area in both private practice and Sports Physiotherapy. Suzanne has worked with sporting teams including Penrith District Netball Association, Mt Druitt Rangers (NPL), Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club, and local dance and cheer schools.
Suzanne has a particular interest in working with artistic athletes including cheerleaders and dancers. She has a professional background in both cheer and dance and has previously worked as both a cheer coach and dance teacher. Suzanne’s previous experiences are an invaluable resource to her as a physiotherapist, as she has a thorough understanding of the level of physical fitness and skill acquisition that these athletes must have in order to be successful on stage and in competition.
Suzanne’s other areas of clinical interest reside in lower limb musculoskeletal injuries, spinal pathologies and women’s health.
Nathanial graduated as a physiotherapist in 2012 which saw him work in private practice and hospital settings gaining experience in all areas of physiotherapy including hand therapy, splinting/casting, pre/post-operative care, Men’s Health and general musculoskeletal, occupational and sports physiotherapy. Since then he has gone on to complete further studies in physiotherapy enabling him to be the only dual titled Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist in Penrith.
Nathanial has a strong background in sports physiotherapy achieving accreditation with NSWIS as a service provider and working with many elite sports teams.
Nathanial has a particular interest in working with elite athletes, complex cases and in particular assessment and management of knee, hip and shoulder pain.
Andrea graduated from the Australian Catholic University completing her Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science in 2018 and Master’s of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2020. After graduating she attained accreditation with ESSA as an Exercise Physiologist.
During her studies she gained clinical experience in both hospital and private practice settings, in cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.
Since working at Progressive, Andrea has a specialist interest in treating musculoskeletal injuries, helping people in the mid-late stage of rehab to get them to return to sport or work. As well as helping people manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes.