Issue 062
May 2010
What is it?
There are four main ligaments in the knee, which are the two collateral ligaments, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), one on each side of the knee joint, and the two cruciate ligaments deep inside the knee joint, the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and the infamous anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Any of these can be injured. The severity of the injury can vary from a very slight tear of the fibers that make up the ligament to a complete rupture.
How it happens
These usually happen due to twisting or shearing forces on the knee joint. It might be from a careless sweep or takedown (either when throwing or being thrown), impact damage following a kick to the leg, or during various BJJ moves – such as a vicious lockdown or while using the rubber guard. Landing awkwardly on the leg is another common occurrence that can cause ligament damage.
Ligament injuries often happen along with damage to other parts of the knee joint, such as the meniscus (cartilage). One common combination is the so-called ‘unhappy triad’ of an ACL, MCL and meniscus tear.
Who has it happened to?
Patrick Cote injured his knee while fighting Anderson Silva for the middleweight title at UFC 90. The injury involved an ACL tear that left him unable to continue. He has since had surgery, and hopes to make a return to the UFC in the near future. Other fighters who have suffered from knee ligament injuries include Ricardo Arona, Tito Ortiz, Mark Coleman, Joe Lauzon, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Thiago Alves, to name but a few.
Treatment
Treatment depends on which ligament is injured and the extent of the injury. Sometimes rest and rehabilitation with exercises will be enough.
For severe injuries, where a large portion of the ligament is torn, surgery may be needed. This is especially true of the anterior cruciate ligament, which does not generally heal well by itself. Many fighters have had ACL reconstruction surgery with varying degrees of success.
After the operation the fighter will have to work hard to regain their mobility and strength around the joint. This should ideally be done in consultation with both a physical therapist and the fighter’s strength and conditioning coach.
How long can a fighter expect to be out for?
Depending on the severity of the injury, it can range from a week or two for a very minor sprain to a year or more for an injury that needs surgery and extensive rehabilitation. It is important not to stress the knee joint too soon after a reconstruction operation, as this may weaken it or cause it to fail altogether.
What problems is it likely to cause?
Once a ligament has been injured, it may be stretched and weakened. Even after the initial healing period, the knee may be less stable than it was before and more vulnerable to injury. Correct rehabilitation reduces the likelihood of suffering from future problems. Surgery is often, but not always, successful although fighters sometimes have continuing difficulties with the knee after the operation.
