2. Metro Physio –
What is a Knee Sprain?

3. What is a Knee Sprain?
A knee sprain is when one of the four ligaments are
overstretched which is when they tear. You may have
symptoms like knee pain ligament, swelling, instability,
difficulty bending and straightening the knee.
This can be done sudden twisting or even too much
force through the knee. Their are many treatments
offered. Some treatments will include PRICE and
exercise. That is explained further into the article.
Sometimes surgery may be required.

4. Knee Sprain

5. Read below for more information about
knee sprains:
There are four ligaments in the knee joint, any of which
can be sprained. In the centre of the joint are the two
cruciate ligaments – anterior and posterior (ACL & PCL).
At the sides of the joints are the two collateral ligaments –
the medial and lateral (MCL & LCL). They work together to
keep the knee joint stable and protect it from injury.

6. Any movement that over stretches the knee can result
in a knee sprain. It may affect one of more of the
ligaments depending on the severity of the injury. Here
we will look at the most common causes of a knee
sprain and which ligament tends to be affected:
Common Causes of a Sprained Knee

7. I. ACL Sprain: Sudden twisting or hyperextension (the knee
bending back too far)
II. PCL Sprain: Force through a bent knee e.g. a fall onto a bent
knee, car accident where the knee hits the dashboard. Accounts
for less than 20% of knee ligament injuries)
III. MCL Sprain: Force through the outer side of the knee pushing
the knee inwards.
IV. LCL Sprain: A blow to the inner side of the knee.

8. If the force is great enough, more than one
ligament may be damaged as well as the knee
cartilage. The most common combination is
an ACL and MCL tear.
Knee sprains can be classified into three grades, depending on the
amount of damage:
Grade 1: a few fibres (less than 10%) are damaged/torn. Usually
heals naturally
Grade 2: more fibres are torn but the ligament is still intact
Grade 3: the ligament is ruptured I.E completely torn. May require
surgery

9. The most common symptoms of a sprained knee are pain, swelling,
bruising and stiffness which may make it difficult to move the knee
and/or walk. With more severe injuries, there may also be some
instability around the knee causing it to give way. Symptoms may
develop immediately after an injury, but sometimes they don’t
appear until a couple of days later.
Knee Sprain Symptoms

10. The location of the pain can help to determine
which knee ligament you have sprained.
Medial Knee Pain: pain on the inner side of the knee usually
indicates a Medial Collateral Ligament tear
Lateral Knee Pain: pain on the outer side of the knee usually
indicates a Lateral Collateral Ligament tear
Widespread Pain and Instability: Most likely an ACL (most
common) or PCL tear. If there was a “popping” noise, it is most likely
an ACL tear

11. PRICE: Usually, the best course of action is to follow the PRICE
principles (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) to reduce pain and
swelling and to speed up healing. Click the link to find out how to
safely and effectively use PRICE.
Rehab: Then when you feel able (usually in just a few days), start
some exercises to regain the strength, movement and function of
your knee. For guidance on exercises and how to progress them
appropriately to get back to full function following a sprain visit the
knee strengthening exercises section.
Treatment for Knee Sprains

12. Knee Brace: You might find that wearing a knee brace helps to
reduce any pain and instability after a knee sprain. Usually a basic
knee brace will be sufficient. If you need a bit more support,
advanced knee braces work well.

13. info@metrophysio.co.uk
0161 745 7551(Greater Manchester)
0151 515 2323 (Merseyside, Liverpool)
www.metrophysio.co.uk