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Question:
Hi,
I'm a Tae Kwon-Do student and as part of a coursework activity I have to suggest ways of training for a student with a long-term knee inury - a medial ligament tear. Tae Kwon-Do involves a considerable amount of kicking
movement and leg flexibility, particularly moving the leg below the knee in kicking movements while keeping the leg above the knee relatively still.
Are these movements a complete impossiblity or could they be attempted with caution and low speed? I read that part of the treatment for an MCL injury is exercise to build up the muscles around the ligament.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Many Thanks,
Iain Johnston
Dr. Golden
Dr. Golden is an orthopedic surgeon and the author of the "Knee Pain" chapter in the upcoming "Manual of Pain Management". He has presented numerous scientific studies at orthopedic conferences. In addition, Dr. Golden is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS),the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA).
Answer: If the injury is to the MCL, then these often heal. They are non-operative unless they are associated with another ligament injury. It takes usually 7-10 weeks to totally heal. If there is residual laxity (looseness) of the medial aspect of the knee after it has totally healed, then surgery may be considered.
Balance and kicking will certainly push the limit of an poorly functioning MCL. The knee should be examined for stability first prior to attempting
sports such as martial arts.