MCL Tear & Arthritis

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   Our user asked: "I tore my left MCL last October (my PT indicated that it was at least a grade 2 tear). Things seem to be fine now, but I recently read that knee injuries may predispose folks to later arthritis. To what extent does this apply to MCL tears . . . to what extent should I be concerned about this? Both parents have arthritis, and I am a very physically active 48 year old."

Ask a PT Response: "
The MCL is a ligament that is located towards the inside aspect of the knee and provides support for the knee against valgus forces such as a blow to the outside of the knee. Therefore damage to this ligament can result in some instability to the knee, thus resulting in added stresses to the joint and/or cartilage. From my experience and the literature which I have read, individuals who have had meniscus injuries are more prone to developing arthritis vs. injuries to ligaments. The reason is that meniscus function as a shock absorber for the knee joint and if damaged will allow for more wear and tear to the cartilage/bone of the knee joint. Nevertheless, this a good question which we will look into further to see if we can locate some published studies on the effects of medial collateral ligament damage on the development of arthritis which we will then share with the visitors to our site. 

Given your family history of arthritis, studies have shown that you will have a higher likelihood of developing arthritis. Some general tips to avoid development of arthritis includes losing excess weight, avoiding high impact activities and activities which would result in added stresses to the knees, and ensuring that you are intaking the recommended dosage of calcium and vitamins in your diet. Thanks for utilizing CyberPT and stay tuned for a more detailed answer to your question."

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Ask a PT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Jul 07 2008 Status: Offline Points: 954	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ask a PT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: MCL Tear & Arthritis Posted: Aug 19 2009 at 3:50pm
	Our user asked: "I tore my left MCL last October (my PT indicated that it was at least a grade 2 tear). Things seem to be fine now, but I recently read that knee injuries may predispose folks to later arthritis. To what extent does this apply to MCL tears . . . to what extent should I be concerned about this? Both parents have arthritis, and I am a very physically active 48 year old." Ask a PT Response: " The MCL is a ligament that is located towards the inside aspect of the knee and provides support for the knee against valgus forces such as a blow to the outside of the knee. Therefore damage to this ligament can result in some instability to the knee, thus resulting in added stresses to the joint and/or cartilage. From my experience and the literature which I have read, individuals who have had meniscus injuries are more prone to developing arthritis vs. injuries to ligaments. The reason is that meniscus function as a shock absorber for the knee joint and if damaged will allow for more wear and tear to the cartilage/bone of the knee joint. Nevertheless, this a good question which we will look into further to see if we can locate some published studies on the effects of medial collateral ligament damage on the development of arthritis which we will then share with the visitors to our site. Given your family history of arthritis, studies have shown that you will have a higher likelihood of developing arthritis. Some general tips to avoid development of arthritis includes losing excess weight, avoiding high impact activities and activities which would result in added stresses to the knees, and ensuring that you are intaking the recommended dosage of calcium and vitamins in your diet. Thanks for utilizing CyberPT and stay tuned for a more detailed answer to your question."

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