They act like strong ropes to hold the bones together and keep ones knee stable.
There are four primary ligaments in ones knee.
Collateral ligaments
These are found on the sides of ones knee.
The medial collateral ligament is on the inside and the lateral collateral ligament is on the outside. They control the sideways motion of ones knee and brace it against unusual movement.
The Medical cruciate ligaments is injured more often than the Lateral cruciate ligaments. Due to the more complex anatomy of the outside of the knee, if you injure your Lateral cruciate ligaments, you usually injure other structures in the joint, as well.
Cruciate ligaments
These are found inside ones knee joint. They cross each other to form an “X” with the anterior cruciate ligament in front and the posterior cruciate ligament in back. The cruciate ligaments control the back and forth motion of ones knee.
The posterior cruciate ligament
This ligament keeps the shinbone from moving backwards too far. It is stronger than the anterior cruciate ligament and is injured less often. The posterior cruciate ligament has two parts that blend into one structure that is about the size of a person’s little finger.
Grade 1 Sprains.
The ligament is mildly damaged in a Grade 1 Sprain. It has been slightly stretched, but is still able to help keep the knee joint stable.
Grade 2 Sprains.
A Grade 2 Sprain stretches the ligament to the point where it becomes loose. This is often referred to as a partial tear of the ligament.
Grade 3 Sprains.
This type of sprain is most commonly referred to as a complete tear of the ligament. The ligament has been split into two pieces, and the knee joint is unstable.
Ligament tears tend to be partial tears with the potential to heal on their own. People who have injured just their ligaments are usually able to return to sports without knee stability problems.
AAOS
If any of these tear it is called ligament damage or ‘torn ligaments’ and is very painful and causes severe swelling of the knee.
The knee is a complex structure consisting of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament, synovial fluid and nerves.
Knee pain could be the result of a problem with any one of these components, or a combination of several.
The knee can take time to heal due to generally there is poor blood supply in that area, X-rays will show some obvious conditions, tendons and ligament damage is difficult to diagnose on x rays, further investigation i.e. a MRI scan maybe required.
Each condition have different healing times, a specialist in that healthcare field will monitor your healing time and should guide you to obtain optimum healing time as this can can from individual to individual.
A grade 1 (minor) MCL tear can take from a few days to a week and a half to heal enough for a return to normal activities, including sports.
A grade 2 tear can take from two to four weeks to heal.
A grade 3 tear usually takes four to eight weeks to heal, unless the ACL is also damaged, in which case recovery may take longer.
ACL tear is a recovery time of at least eight to nine months.
The above time line recovery can vary, the above statements are in general.
UCSF Healthcare
Cause
Anterior cruciate ligament:
Changing direction rapidly i.e football, basketball
Stopping suddenly
Slowing down while running
Landing from a jump incorrectly
Direct contact or collision, such as a football tackle
Collateral ligaments:
Injuries that force that pushes the knee sideways
Medial collateral ligament:
Direct blow to the outside of the knee (This pushes the knee inwards (toward the other knee).
Lateral collateral ligament:
Blows to the inside of the knee that push the knee outwards
Prosterior cruciate ligament:
A direct blow to the front of the knee (such as a bent knee hitting a dashboard in a car crash, or a fall onto a bent knee in sports)
Pulling or stretching the ligament (such as in a twisting or hyperextension injury)
Source: Access Emergency Medicine - McGraw-Hill Medical
Symptoms
Anterior cruciate ligament:
Might hear a ‘popping’ noise and you may feel ones knee give out from under you?
Pain with swelling. Within 24 hours, ones knee will swell. If ignored, the swelling and pain may resolve on its own. However, if you attempt to return to sports, ones knee will probably be unstable and you risk causing further damage to the cushioning cartilage (meniscus) of ones knee?
Loss of full range of motion?
Tenderness along the joint line?
Discomfort while walking?
Collateral ligaments:
Pain at the sides of ones knee (Pain on both side of kneecap)?
Swelling?
Feeling that ones knee is giving way?
Medial collateral ligament:
Pain is on the inside of the knee(s)?
Swelling?
Feeling that ones knee is giving way?
Lateral collateral ligament:
Pain on the outside of the knee?
Swelling?
Feeling that ones knee is giving way?
Prosterior cruciate ligament:
Pain with swelling that occurs steadily and quickly after the injury?
Swelling that makes the knee stiff and may cause a limp?
Difficulty walking?
The knee feels unstable, like it may ‘give out’?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:
Severe swelling
Can’t put weight on it or knee is giving way
if here ‘popping sound’
Limited movement
Beware of:
Baker’s Cyst – a collection of knee-joint fluid that pools in the back of the knee, most commonly as a result of arthritis. If a Baker’s cyst ruptures, the fluid may leak down into the calf region causing an aching pain in the calf, along with swelling.
Hold ice on it for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
Wear a compression bandage to support the knee, but make sure it’s not too tight.
Elevate the injured knee on a pillow or several pillows.
Use crutches or a cane to take weight off the knee.
Talk to your pharmacist regarding medication to take.
This condition may show similar symptoms to:
Lateral Patellar Facet overload syndrome
A dull aching pain underneath, around the sides or below kneecap.
It is caused by increased pressure on the lateral facet of the patella.
The reason for this is improper tracking, poor alignment or dislocation of the kneecap.
The condition is often apparent during repetitive exercise such as climbing stairs.
Popliteus muscle injury
A thin triangular muscle located in the depression at the back of the knee joint, called the popliteal fossa.
Exercise or trauma may cause injury to the popliteus muscle.
If the muscle is injured you may feel tenderness when rotating your leg inwards.
The Chelsea Clinic
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Ligament (knee) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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