01/23/2023
You’ve probably heard many times someone talk about a torn ACL, especially if you’re a big sports fan. But what exactly is the difference between an ACL and MCL injury? Both your ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) are ligaments found in your knee that offer support and stability by connecting your femur to your tibia. We actually have several ligaments supporting our knees, but for now, we’ll focus on these two.
𝙎𝙤, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚?
The ACL crosses in front of your knee while the MCL is located on the inner side of your knee. Our knees take on a great deal of daily use and abuse, and thus why they tend to be one of the most injured joints in our body. A simple twist can lead to sprains or worse, tears. These ligament tears can be partial or entirely torn away from each other.
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝘾𝙇 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙈𝘾𝙇 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧?
An ACL tear will have a distinctive popping sound, while an MCL tear will not. ACL tears are common among athletes who pivot and jump and can cause swelling and pain.
An MCL tear is often the result of a direct blow to the knee in a contact sport.
Signs of an ACL tear can include a distinct popping sound when you shift your knee, pain, swelling, feeling unstable, and difficulty walking.
MCL injuries are similar to that of the ACL but will cause pain and discomfort on the inner side of the knee along with possible locking of the knee joint.
Contact Dr. Nathani if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Remember to “R.I.C.E.” – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate