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MCL and LCL sprain treatment in Edmonton
Sprains of the ligaments on the inner and outer sides of the knee — the ones that usually heal without surgery.
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What is a collateral ligament sprain?
The medial collateral ligament runs down the inner side of the knee and the lateral collateral ligament down the outer side. They stop the knee buckling sideways. A sprain is graded by how much the ligament has been stretched or torn: a stretch with no laxity, a partial tear with some give, or a complete tear. MCL injuries are considerably more common than LCL, and both usually respond to rehabilitation rather than surgery.
What brings it on
Typically a force pushing the knee sideways: a hit to the outside of the knee in hockey or football driving it inwards, a ski catching an edge, or a sudden twist with the foot planted. The pain is on the side of the knee rather than deep inside it.
It matters what else happened at the same moment. A sideways force with a twist can also involve the cruciate ligaments or the meniscus, so a sprain that came with a pop, immediate swelling, or a knee that feels unreliable gets looked at more carefully.
How it is assessed
The grade and the company it keeps decide the plan.
- Exactly how the knee was loaded, and what you heard or felt
- Testing sideways stability at two knee angles, comparing sides
- Where the tenderness sits along the ligament
- Cruciate and meniscus testing, because these injuries travel together
- Whether swelling came on within an hour, which points toward bleeding inside the joint
What treatment usually involves
Early on: settling swelling, getting the knee straightening fully, and getting the quadriceps switching on again. Losing full extension early is a problem that takes much longer to fix than it takes to prevent.
Then: progressive strengthening of the quadriceps, hamstrings and hip muscles, and rebuilding the knee’s tolerance to sideways load. A brace is sometimes used for higher grades in the early weeks, for confidence and protection rather than as the treatment itself.
Return to sport is graded — straight-line running before change of direction, change of direction before contact. Lower grades often come back within a few weeks; complete tears take considerably longer, and an isolated complete MCL tear is still frequently managed without surgery.
Questions people ask
Do I need a brace?
Sometimes, for higher grades and usually for a defined period rather than indefinitely. A brace protects the ligament while it heals; it does not do the strengthening, which is what actually determines how the knee ends up.
Can I walk on it?
Usually yes for a lower grade, sometimes with crutches for a few days for comfort. A knee that gives way, cannot straighten, or will not take weight at all is a reason to be seen sooner rather than to push through.
How is this different from an ACL injury?
Different ligament, different mechanism, different course. The collaterals sit on the sides and have a genuine capacity to heal; the ACL sits inside the joint and does not heal in the same way. That is the main reason ACL injuries more often end up in a surgical conversation. See ACL injury.
When can I ski or play again?
It depends on the grade and the demands of the sport, and it should be decided by what the knee can do rather than by the calendar. Strength compared with the other leg, and comfort with change of direction, are the sort of markers used.
Does an MCL sprain need surgery?
Almost never for the MCL alone. It has a good blood supply and heals well with protected movement and progressive loading. Surgery is discussed when several ligaments are injured together, which is assessed at the first visit.
How long before skiing again?
Grade 1 sprains often allow a return in two to three weeks; grade 2 takes four to eight; grade 3 longer. Skiing specifically needs sideways stability, which is tested before you are cleared, so expect specific hop and landing tests before the season resumes.
Book a knee assessment
Vertex Physiotherapy is at 6958 76 Ave NW #205, Edmonton, AB T6B 2R2. Call (825) 525-2852 or book online.