Knee Ligament Sprain Injury Mechanism

Most knee sprains are from high-velocity trauma from one or more of the following situations:

• a blow to the outside of the knee with a varus force causing medial collateral ligament injury on the inside of the knee

• a blow to the inside of the knee with a valgus force causing lateral collateral ligament injury on the outside of the knee
• knee struck in a flexed or extended position causing posterior cruciate ligament or anterior cruciate ligament tear with rupture
• absorbing severe force to a flexed knee with strong quadriceps contraction causing anterior cruciate ligament tear with rupture

There are three grades of sprains or tears:

• Grade 1 is a slight tear with no rupture of the knee ligament fibers.
• Grade 2 is a moderate tear with some rupture of the fibers.
• Grade 3 is a complete tear with full rupture of the fibers.

Please find your knee diagnosis in the list below for knee treatment options:

Knee Sprain Treatment

Acute Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain or Tear - Try and avoid arthroscopy surgery by using ice with compression, natural anti-inflammatories, stretching, limited activities, physical therapy and rehabilitation. For grades 1 and 2 tears, use a knee brace that allows flexion and extension only. If you have a complete grade 3 tear, then surgical repair is the best option followed by physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Chronic Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain or Tear - Try and avoid arthroscopy surgery by using ice with compression, natural anti-inflammatories, limited activities, stretching, physical therapy and rehabilitation. For all three grades of tears, use a knee brace that allows flexion and extension only. Surgery is not usually recommended unless there is an accompanying ACL or PCL tear with instability.

Acute Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain or Tear - Try and avoid orthopedic surgery by using ice with compression, natural anti-inflammatories, stretching, limited activities, physical knee therapy and rehabilitation. For grades 1 and 2 tears, use a knee brace that allows flexion and extension only. If you have a complete grade 3 tear, then surgical repair is the best option.

Chronic Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain or Tear - Try ice treatments with compression, natural anti-inflammatories, stretching, limited activities, physical therapy and rehabilitation. For all three grades of tears, use a knee brace that allows flexion and extension only. Orthopedic knee surgery is not usually recommended unless there is an accompanying ACL tear or PCL rupture with instability.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear - Surgical repair with reconstruction is usually the best option for future stability of the knee. Graft choices include allograft, synthetic or autologous. If surgery is not an option, then wear an ACL knee brace and take ice treatments with compression, natural anti-inflammatories, enzymes, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Do knee exercises to strengthen the weak muscles - particularly the quadriceps, hamstrings and vastus medialis oblique (VMO).

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tear - Orthopedic surgical repair with reconstruction is usually the best option for future stability of the knee. Graft choices include allograft, synthetic or autologous. If surgery is not an option then wear a PCL knee brace and take ice treatments with compression, natural anti-inflammatories, enzymes, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Do knee exercises to strengthen the weak muscles - particularly the quadriceps, hamstrings and vastus medialis oblique (VMO).


Hopefully, the above information will help you find the best treatment option for your knee ligament injury or sprain.