Exploring Knee Ligament Injuries: Causes and Impact
Ligament injuries, commonly known as knee sprains, often occur in sports-related incidents, causing instability and limited range of motion in the knee joint.
The knee joint is stabilized by four primary ligaments:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – Controls rotational and forward movement of the shinbone. ACL injuries are common in sports like downhill skiing, basketball, and football.
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) – Governs backward movement of the shinbone. PCL injuries often happen during football tackles.
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) – Maintains stability on the inner side of the knee and is susceptible to injury during twisting or sudden changes in direction.
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) – Provides stability to the outer portion of the knee and is commonly injured in sports like football or hockey.
When any of these four ligaments are injured, the knee becomes unstable in the direction that the affected ligament normally stabilizes.