Causes of an MCL Tear

The MCL, or medial collateral ligament, is a thick band of tissue located from the inner knee to the shinbone and its purpose is to keep your knee stable and prevent your leg from extending inward. Like other tissues located throughout the body, the MCL is susceptible to tears due to injury or improper movements and when this occurs you must seek medical attention to prevent long-term injury.

Direct Hit

• The most common cause for an MCL tear is a direct and intense impact on the outside of the knee joint. For example, if an object hits your knee or if you're playing sports and the outside of your knee is hit with strong force. This is a common injury among athletes who experience physical contact on a regular basis, such as in football.

Quick Turning

• Another cause of an MCL tear is quick movement such as sudden stops or turning. This sudden change of direction may cause the MCL to tear due to the quick side-to-side movements. Athletes who engage in skiing, basketball and soccer commonly tear or injure their MCL due to swift lower leg movements.

Excessive Stress

• Excessive stress on the knee and its surrounding ligaments can cause the MCL to tear. The MCL is similar to a large rubber band as it can lose its elasticity after extended periods of stress. When this happens the ligament becomes worn-out and is easily sprained or torn, according to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.

Symptoms

• It is important to know the symptoms of an MCL tear to ensure you do not aggravate this injury further, which may cause the tear to worsen. Cedars-Sinai.com states the most common symptoms of an MCL tear include stiffness in the knee, swelling, kneecap tenderness as well as the sensation that your knee may give-out. Of course, the most common symptom is pain; however, the pain level may range from mild to severe and if you experience a considerable amount of pain on the inside of the knee you may have a Grade 3 tear, which may require surgery to fix.