How long does a torn MCL take to heal?

You depend on your knees for most activities that involve moving around on your feet, and your knees depend on healthy, functioning ligaments to make all of this happen. However, the three major ligaments providing stability to the knee are vulnerable to injury and chronic conditions that can make it painful or difficult to use your knee. 

The inner ligament of the knee, the medial collateral ligament (MCL), is one that is vulnerable to injury when force strikes the outside of your knee and buckles it inward. This can cause the MCL to tear, which is a painful condition that can require a lot of time and effort for recovery.

How long does a torn MCL take to heal?

The recovery timeline for MCL tears varies from person to person depending on the severity of the injury and other factors, like age, weight and medical history. Without treatment, an injured MCL may never recover properly, especially if it was subject to a large tear. 

However, with treatment, the recovery timeline can take anywhere between weeks and a couple of months depending on the severity of the tear:

• Grade I MCL tear recovery time — Grade I tears are minor tears that typically resolve within a few weeks.
  
• Grade II MCL tear recovery time — Grade II tears are more severe and may require a few additional weeks and usually require professional treatment.
  
• Grade III MCL tear recovery time — Grade III tears are severe and may require surgical intervention and physical rehabilitation. These tears can take a few months to fully recover from.

Visit Whatcom Physical Therapy for torn MCL treatment

Have you recently injured your MCL and want to recover as quickly as possible so you can enjoy your favorite activities again? Regardless of the severity of your tear, our team at Whatcom Physical Therapy can help. We can examine your condition and guide you through a personalized treatment that can help you recover, including rehabilitation after surgery if surgery is necessary. Contact our team today for more information about torn MCL treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.