Knee ligament injuries are very common and are often sports related, although they can occur from a trauma during everyday activities. The most common are:
- a sprain/strain - one or more ligaments is overstretched through twisting or pulling
- a tear - either a partial tear or complete rupture of the muscle
- damage to the cartilage in your knee - the cartilage is a crescent-shaped disc called a meniscus, that acts as a 'shock absorber' in your knee
- this could be caused by an acute injury or trauma or due to a more gradual onset because of deterioration/wear and tear
Ligaments connect one bone to another. The ligaments outside your knee joint are called the medial collateral ligament and the lateral collateral ligament. They provide your knee with stability and limit the amount it can move from side to side.
The medial collateral ligament is strong can be sprained or completely ruptured (torn) if you twist your straightened leg at the same time as being knocked sideways, for example, when being tackled in rugby.
The ligaments inside your knee joint are called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament. These ligaments provide stability to your knee when it is in different positions, particularly in the forward and backward movements of the knee joint. People who sustain an injury to their ACL may complain of symptoms of the knee 'giving out'.