One effective way to increase your balance is the single-leg stance technique. A tear to the medial collateral ligament in the knee can cause pain, swelling, and a lack of stability in the knee. These cookies do not store any personal information. Santa Monica Sports Medicine Research Foundation. Scientific questions and answers were created based on a comprehensive literature review using the central registers for controlled studies of Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane including the terms medial collateral ligament, anterior cruciate ligament, MCL, ACL, and outcome used in various combinations. Start each exercise slowly. The quadriceps are the muscles on the front of your thigh. How to Prevent ACL Injury With a Strengthening Routine - Verywell Health 29 Apr 2023 14:46:10 It is important to avoid exercise that compresses or puts weight on your knee. An injury to the ACL affects the stability of your knee. Make sure your pelvis stays level and does not tilt to the side as you do this. Lie on your back with both knees bent and feet flat on the floor at about hip-width. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is on the inside. Because of this, it is important to speak to your healthcare provider about a referral to a physical therapist (PT) if you are at risk of an ACL tear and are interested in starting an ACL prevention regimen. Tighten the thigh muscles in your affected leg by pressing the back of your knee flat down to the floor. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. The structure also provides stability to the knee during higher-level activities like running, cutting, and jumping. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inner side of the knee is most often torn when there is a force that strikes the outside of the knee.