Advice

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) ligament is a ligament on the outside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the fibula in the lower leg. It provides stability for outward movements of the knee. The LCL is injured by direct blows to the inside of the knee that push it outward, rapid cutting and change of direction movements, and landing awkwardly when jumping.

Knee ligament injuries can produce the following symptoms:

1. Feeling or hearing a pop at the time of injury
2. Giving way or experiencing a sense of knee instability
3. Rapid onset of swelling within the first several hours
4. Intense pain at the time of injury
5. Inability to weight bear