Medial Ligament (MCL) tear or strain

This is a common injury in athletically active people.
The ligament is on the inner side of the knee and is often strained or torn by someone or something falling against the outer side of the knee. There may be a snap or pop and the knee may be seen to bend inwards. There is always a lot of pain on the inner side of the knee and the knee may feel loose or 'wobbly'.
Strains of the ligament heal well with rest, physiotherapy and controlled exercises over a 6-week period. Recovery is often slow and frustrating. Complete tears of the ligament may require surgical repair and/or immobilisation in a splint.
Sometimes the medial ligament is torn with the anterior cruciate ligament and this is a very serious injury. In my opinion this injury should be treated by repair of the medial ligament AND reconstruction of the anterior cruciate within 2 weeks of the injury.
Whether treated with surgery or conservatively the isolated medial ligament injury often has slight residual looseness (or laxity) which usually does not interfere with sport. However in subsequent years the medial cartilage can tear due to the chronic slight laxity stessing the cartilage.