The ligament prevents the knee joint from instability in the inside of the joint and helps hold the two bones together to form the joint. A physical examination with a medial collateral ligament test shows altered knee joint tightness. This test involves bending the knee to 25-30 degrees and putting pressure on the outside surface of the knee. Other tests may include a knee MRI and a knee joint X-ray. A knee immobilizer could be used as symptoms dictate to assist in stabilizing the joint.
Physical therapy helps regain joint and leg strength.
Most surgeons find that casting the joint in cases of severe injury is not beneficial. However, many sprained MCLs are due to contact and are not preventable. Since ligaments have little blood supply, they take longer to heal than injuries to other tissues, such as skin, that have good blood supplies. This means that the MCL injury could take weeks, months, or even years to completely heal. Kreutz's injury is not serious.