The knee has four major ligaments, which allow for a wide range of movement within the knee while still maintaining the knee's stability.
Knee ligaments are commonly injured when the knee receives a direct blow or when it is suddenly twisted.
If you suspect your knee may have been injured, it is important that you immediately cease any sporting or physical activity, rest your knee, elevate it and apply ice packs and compression, and seek medical attention.
Most mild cases of knee ligament injury get better within six weeks. More severe injuries can take up to 3-4 months to fully recover.
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
Injury of knee ligaments is the sprain or tear of one or more ligaments in the knee. The knee ligaments can be injured in several different ways. Injuries are commonly sustained by athletes, but can happen to anyone.
Ligaments are a type of strong connective tissue that connect bones to other bones, providing stability to joints. The knee has four major ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. Two of those, the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, cross one another as they connect the shin bone (tibia) to the thigh bone (femur). They are found deep within the knee joint and allow for a wide range of movement, while still maintaining the joint's stability.
The cruciate ligaments are supported by the two collateral ligaments, the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, found on either side of the knee, which limit the sideways motion of the joint.
Commonly, injury of a knee ligament is associated with damage to other ligaments or structures within the knee, such as menisci (see report on Meniscal tears).
A category of body tissue that connects and supports other body tissues.
A connecting surface or tissue between two bones.
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
Knee ligaments are commonly injured when the knee receives a direct blow or when it is suddenly twisted.
Different ligaments are damaged in different circumstances:
An injury to the medial collateral ligament usually occurs when the outer side of the knee gets hit, such as during a football tackle.
An injury to the lateral collateral ligament can occur as a result of a direct blow to the inner side of the knee. This type of injury is common in sports where there are forceful collisions such as in football and hockey.
An anterior cruciate ligament injury is a common sporting injury, particularly in skiing, football, basketball and netball. It typically occurs as a result of the athlete suddenly pivoting, decelerating or landing from a jump.
This type of injury can occur when the front of a knee is hit while the foot is still planted on the ground. As this ligament is stronger than the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament injuries are not as common.
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
Risk factors for knee ligament injury can include:
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
Smith, H. C., Vacek, P., Johnson, R. J., et. al. (2012) Risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament injury: a review of the literature - part 2: hormonal, genetic, cognitive function, previous injury, and extrinsic risk factors. Sports Health, 4:155–161. Accessed 1 July 2015, from doi:10.1177/1941738111428282
Signs and symptoms of knee ligament injury include:
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
An injury to a knee ligament may be diagnosed by a physical examination. A scan, such as an ultrasound, is frequently used to assess which ligaments are injured. Ultrasound is less useful for assessing injuries to the cruciate ligaments, which are located deep within the knee.
In cases where there is swelling around the knee, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or arthroscopy may be needed to evaluate the injury. These techniques provide detailed views of the deeper knee structures.
A procedure that allows your doctor to see inside a joint, such as your knee or hip. An arthroscope is a tiny telescope with a light attached to its end. It is inserted via a small incision and guided through the joint needing examination.
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
A type of imaging that uses a magnetic field and low-energy radio waves, instead of X-rays, to obtain images of organs.
If you suspect your knee may have been injured, it is important that you immediately cease any sporting or physical activity.
To help reduce discomfort and further injury:
This can be remembered as R-I-C-E.
Seek medical attention for further treatment.
Medications for knee ligament injuries include pain-relief medications such as acetaminophen. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can also be used to reduce inflammation.
In some cases, surgery is necessary to repair a knee ligament injury. This may be a requirement in cases of a complete rupture to ligaments, or if there are additional injuries to other structures.
During surgery, ligaments are reconstructed using a piece of tendon taken from another part of the leg, a process known as autograft. If a section of tendon is obtained from a donor, the procedure is called an allograft.
Physiotherapy can improve the movement of the knee and assist with recovery. Physiotherapy may also be useful before and after knee surgery.
Crutches may be recommended to provide support during movement.
It is important not to perform any intense exercises unless your physiotherapist or doctor specifically advises them .
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
A healthcare profession that treats bodily weaknesses or defects with physical remedies, such as massage or exercise.
Dense bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones.
Potential complications of knee ligament injury include:
Potential complications from surgery include:
Entry into the body of microorganisms that can reproduce and cause disease.
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
One or more fibers that transmit signals of sensation and motion between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.
A healthcare profession that treats bodily weaknesses or defects with physical remedies, such as massage or exercise.
Dense bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones.
With treatment, most mild cases of knee ligament injury resolve within six weeks and the ligaments return to their normal function. More severe injuries can take up to 3-4 months to fully recover.
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
You can lower your risks of injury to knee ligaments by following proper technique during sporting activities. A knee brace may help prevent further damage to a weakened knee. To prevent repeat injury of a knee that had been injured before, physiotherapy programs can speed up recovery of the injured ligaments and strengthen local muscles.
A healthcare profession that treats bodily weaknesses or defects with physical remedies, such as massage or exercise.