Our ligaments play a crucial role in the creation of the smallest movements; without them, no muscle or joint could function properly. Their task is on the one hand to properly anchor the muscle to the bone, and on the other hand, to ensure the stability of the joints. However, a single wrong step or movement can easily result in a serious injury. A ligament tear is terribly painful and a prolonged injury that may force us to give up the joy of movement for long months.
The Role of Ligaments in Movement
From a functional perspective, tendons and ligaments must be distinguished from each other: while the role of tendons is to anchor the muscle to the bone, ligaments provide stability to the joint but are not connected to muscles. However, during operation, muscles, tendons, and ligaments collectively contribute to the stability and mobility of the joint. Tendons convey the strength of muscles to the skeleton during movement, ensuring that the bone moves with the muscle, while ligaments, in collaboration with the joint, secure the bones to each other, simultaneously providing their various directional movements. When any part of this system undergoes changes due to trauma (injury), it affects the overall joint function. Ligaments and tendons are histologically composed of the same structural elements, collagen fibres, which have a relatively long regeneration time of up to one year in some cases.
Possible Causes of Ligament Tear
In our daily lives, numerous accidents can occur, leading to the partial or complete tear of our ligaments. Even a simple ankle sprain can result in a complete ligament tear that is why the proper protection and caution is important. However, it is essential to note that ligaments can easily be damaged without complete tear. For instance, they can stretch due to a sudden movement, resulting in their surface injuries. In such cases, it is advisable to consult a medical practitioner, as minor degenerative changes are more likely lead to ligament tears in the future. If our ligaments of any weight-bearing joint have suffered such damage, it is crucial to protect the joint during activities such as sports, hiking, or other stressful activities by wearing a stabilizing support.
The characteristic symptoms of a tear include:
- a typical popping sound,
- swelling, hematoma,
- sensitivity to pressure,
- sudden, intense stabbing pain,
- restricted movement: limited or no ability to move the limbs,
- abnormal mobility: dislocation, sprain,
- may be accompanied by a fracture,
- muscles may also deform.
Treatment of a Ligament Tear
Relief
In the case of a ligament tear always seek medical attention. The appropriate therapy can only be determined after an accurate medical diagnosis, and the treatment depends on the type and extent of the injury. If a milder partial tear has occurred, resting and elevating the injured limb may be sufficient. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to stabilize the affected limb with a cast. However, in both cases it is important to relieve the limb, providing continuous rest, as even the slightest stress can result serious complications.
Pain relief in case of a Ligament Tear
A complete ligament tear is a highly painful disease that recovers slowly, making it necessary to alleviate the associated pain. This can be achieved through:
- targeted injections,
- acupuncture methods,
- shockwave therapy,
- icing.
Surgery
In the case of a complete tear, surgery is often necessary and this is typically determined by MRI examination. If you are lucky, surgery can be carried out through a small incision, known as an arthroscopic procedure, which is a less intrusive intervention, so recovery time is shortened. In other cases, merging the ligament ends or using ligament replacement can be the solution, which usually requires major surgery.
Physiotherapy
Surgical intervention is always followed by more extended rehabilitation period, but this is also necessary after the initial resting phase, even if surgery was not required. During this period, physiotherapy plays a crucial role for two reasons. First reason is the regeneration of collagen fibres that make up tendons and ligaments is activated by movement (stretching), and this can be achieved only through targeted, sustained physiotherapy. Physiotherapy contributes to preventing persistent limitations in our movement and helps the affected joint area its original range of motion, making the injured joint as stable as possible, and strengthening the stabilizing muscles.
The other reason for the necessity for professional physiotherapy is that adhesions are likely to develop during spontaneous recovery when the tendon adheres to the wall of tendon sheath. If we do not act against this, it could result in significant and lifelong movement restrictions.
In addition to physiotherapy, the specialist supports the recovery of motion function with other physiotherapeutic methods, manual techniques, proprioceptive training, and balance training. Supporting devices that stabilize the affected joint, such as ankle supports, elbow supports, or knee supports which can be helpful during stressful situations and even during sports after recovery to relieve our joints.
After a ligament tear, unfortunately, for the rest of our lives, we must pay attention to choosing a sport that does not strain the injured joints and ligaments. Swimming, spinal training, walking, or in some cases, cycling can be good choices, but it is the best to consult with a specialist or physiotherapist before making a decision.