The Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) runs down the inside of the knee, connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The MCL protects and supports the knee from being pushed inwards.
Similar to ankle sprains, the ligaments in the knee can be sprained, meaning it has been put under excessive stress and some parts of the ligament are damaged. This could be caused by a big hit to the outside of the knee, commonly from a tackle in sport, or from a large stretch.
A sprain is when there has been damage to the ligament, but it’s not completely torn. You have an MCL tear if the ligament has actually been torn. It is common for MCL sprains to happen at the same time as other injuries to the knee like an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tear or a meniscus tear.
However, the MCL has …