What is an MCL Tear or Sprain?
The stability of your knee depends on the ligaments surrounding your knee. There are several ligaments found within your knee joint and their function is to connect the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone) together. The four stabilizing ligaments of the knee are: • Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) – located medially (on the inside of your knee) from the end of the femur to the top of the tibia • Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) – located laterally (on the outside of your knee) from the end of the femur to the top of the tibia • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) – located within the center of your knee joint, from the back of the femur to the front of the tibia • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) – located within the center of your knee joint, from the front of the femur to the back of the tibia Your collateral ligaments limit side to side motion of the knee. The cruciate ligaments limit front to back motion as well as rotation of the knee. The specific function of your MCL is to pr
