Knee Ligament sprains & Tears
Los Angeles

Steve Yoon

What are ligament tears?

Ligaments are short bands of tough, fibrous, flexible connective tissue holding a joint together or connecting bones or cartilage. Stretched or torn ligaments are known as sprains. Torn ligaments or sprains are caused by injury when the body twists, falls, or is hit in a way that forces the knee structure out of position.

What are the symptoms of ligament tears in the knees?

If you have sustained knee ligament tears, you may experience:

  • Sudden and severe pain
  • A loud snap or pop during the injury
  • A feeling of looseness in the joint
  • Swelling within the first 24 hours
  • Inability to put weight on the joint without pain, or at all

How do ligament tears happen?

Ligament tears can occur in any number of ways when the body is forced into an abnormal position. For example, a baseball player sliding into base might twist his knee in the process, causing a ligament tear or sprain. Ligament tears are painful, and they need medical attention.

Steve Yoon

Types of ligament tears in the knees

There are four ligaments in each knee that are prone to injury. Knee ligament tears can occur in:

  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): This ligament connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). It is the most commonly injured knee ligament.
  • Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL): The PCL is rarely injured except in automobile accidents. It also serves to link the femur to the tibia.
  • Lateral collateral ligament: (LCL): It connects the femur to the fibula (smaller bone of the lower leg on the outer side of the knee).
  • Medial collateral ligament (MCL): This ligament links the femur to the tibia on the inside of the knee.

How are knee ligament tears treated?

Dr. Yoon will perform a thorough consultation and evaluate all the available information related to the situation. A tailored plan of care will be discussed.

Is there a way to help prevent ligament tears in the knee?

To reduce your risk of a knee ligament tear:

  • Warm up with lighter activities first before engaging in more strenuous activities.
  • Do regular stretching and strengthening exercises to keep your thigh muscles strong.
  • Maintain flexibility.
  • If you increase the intensity of your workout, do it slowly. Don’t make any sudden dramatic changes.

Ligament Tears FAQ's

What are knee ligament tears (sprains)?

Ligaments are bands of connective tissue that hold the bones of a joint together. A tear (sprain) happens when the knee twists, is forced out of position, or otherwise injured.

  • ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) – most common
  • PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) – less common (often due to more severe trauma)
  • MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament)
  • LCL (Lateral Collateral Ligament)

Sudden severe pain at the time of injury, a popping sound, swelling within the first 24 hours, feeling of looseness or instability in the knee, and difficulty bearing weight.

Options include rest, activity modification, physical therapy, and possibly braces. If biologic therapy is appropriate, this can be discussed during the consultaiton.

Warm up properly before intense activity, stretch and strengthen thigh muscles, maintain flexibility, and avoid sudden increases in workload or activity intensity.

If there’s severe instability, large tears, or when non-surgical therapies fail; surgery may also be recommended depending on the patient’s activity level, age, goals, and degree of injury.

Contact Us >>
Disclaimer: All statements provided by this website are provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not considered medical advice. Biologic therapies discussed on this website are not being offered as a cure for any condition, disease, or injury. No statements or implied therapies on this website have been evaluated and/or approved by the FDA. Steve Yoon, M.D. and its medical practice does not claim that any applications, or potential applications, using biologic therapies are approved by the FDA or have FDA approved indications. We do not claim that these therapies guarantee outcome for any listed or unlisted condition, intended or implied. It’s important for potential patients to do their own research and discuss this with their physician so that one can make an informed decision. Any decision to participate in any biologic therapy is completely voluntary.
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at Phone: (310) 890-1411.
Message Us