Signs of MCL Injury: What Skiers Should Know

The medial collateral ligament is a flat band-like ligament located on the inner side of the knee that helps stabilize the joint and prevent excessive valgus (inward movement) and believe it or not, MCL injuries are one of the most common injuries we diagnose and treat at Nomad Wellness Niseko. Most of the clients are able to walk into the clinic just fine or sometimes with a small limp, but complain of pain on the inside of the knee – especially on palpation. 

Even though I am a snowboarder, I have experience recovering from a MCL injury many years ago whilst playing field hockey. I rapidly changed direction and my boot got stuck in the turf. Living in Hong Kong for the past 10 years, I have seen an array of knee injuries and treating these funky little joints is a special interest of mine. But I have never seen as many MCL tears as my winters in Niseko!

So… Why are skiers more prone? 

Well, skiers are more susceptible to MCL injuries due to the rapid turns and lateral movements that place stress on the knee, especially during falls or when catching an edge. The fixed position of feet in bindings increases vulnerability to twisting forces and unlike snowboarders (whose feet are secured in a sideways stance), skiers have 2 legs moving independently. A 2021 study in the Journal of Sports Medicine analyzed skiing accidents and identified that the majority of MCL injuries occur during falls or when the ski catches an edge, leading to a lateral force on the knee.

But don’t fear if you’re afraid you have injured your MCL. And here is why… It is rare that someone would need surgery after an MCL injury. Even with a grade 3 (complete tear), surgery discussions would only start if the client has sustained multiple injuries (for example: ACL, MCL and meniscus – we call this the trifecta in the physio world) and if they are very unstable through the knee joint. 

Non-surgical treatment typically includes rest, physiotherapy, bracing, and rehabilitation exercises to strengthen the knee and improve function.

So how to diagnose which grade you have?

Luckily, clinical diagnosis is probably all you need. Meaning one of our experienced therapists would be able to assess your knee by completing a range of provocative knee tests. These tests are also vital to rule out other knee injuries and we do them on a weekly basis during the winter season! Sending a client for an MRI would only be to confirm a full rupture or if your insurance company wanted you to get one so you could get your travel or global insurance to cover you for your injury. So if you are querying a MCL injury, seeing a physio initially is the right call.