Knee Ligament Damage
More
than 8 million people visit orthopaedic surgeons each year because of
knee problems. The knee is the largest joint in the body and is vital to
movement. Two sets of ligaments in the knee give it stability: the
cruciate and the collateral ligaments.
Cruciate Ligaments
The cruciate ligaments are located inside the knee joint and connect the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). They are made of many strands and function like short ropes that hold the knee joint tightly in place when the leg is bent or straight. This stability is needed for proper knee joint movement.
The name, cruciate, derives from the word crux, meaning cross, and crucial. The cruciate ligaments not only lie inside the knee joint, they crisscross each other to form an "x". The cruciate ligament located toward the front of the knee is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and the one located toward the rear of the knee is called the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
The ACL prevents the shinbone from sliding forwards beneath the thighbone.
The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, is not injured as frequently as the ACL.
The collateral ligaments are located at the inner side and outer side of the knee joint. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) connects the thighbone to the shinbone and provides stability to the inner side of the knee. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) connects the thighbone to the other bone in the lower portion of your leg (fibula) and stabilizes the outer side.
Rehabilitation Plan
A rehabilitation plan is needed if you have a cruciate or collateral ligament injury. Most rehabilitation plans include:
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Passive range-of-motion exercises designed to restore flexibility.
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Braces to control joint movement.
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Exercises to strengthen the quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh. (Muscle strength is needed to provide the knee joint with as much support and stability as possible when weight is placed on it.)
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Additional exercises on a high-seat exercise bicycle, followed by more strenuous quadriceps exercise.
Your progress and the ability of the knee to function as a normal knee will determine how long you must use crutches and a brace.