Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Torn Ligament?SymptomsLocationsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a Torn Ligament?
Symptoms
Locations
Diagnosis
Treatment
Symptoms of a torn ligament can include pain and swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the affected joint. Depending on the severity, these injuries may be treated conservatively with rest and bracing, with physical therapy, or with surgery.
This article walks you through the symptoms of a ligament tear and the activities that may cause it. It also discusses treatment for the different grades of sprains.
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A ligament is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone. It also connects bones tocartilage, a key element of the joints in your body.
Ligaments are quite strong but can be stretched or even torn. This results in various grades, or levels, ofspraininjury.
Forcing a joint out of its normal position can result in a ligament tear. This can occur with a fall, a sudden twist, or a blow to the body.
These injuries are common during athletic activity since joints are in constant motion and under a lot of stress. Ligaments in the ankle, knee, and wrist are commonly affected.
Sprains are graded to describe the extent of the tearing:
Symptoms of a Torn Ligament
A torn ligament can have a few different symptoms. These may include:
For some ligaments, you may hear a pop or feel tearing at the time of the injury. A torn ligament may also cause you to have muscle spasms.
Ligaments support and strengthen joints. Their main function is to keep the bones of the skeleton in proper alignment and prevent abnormal movements of the joints.
Functions of Connective Tissue
Where Ligament Tears Are Most Common
Other common sites of ligament tears and the possible causes behind them include:
The diagnosis of a ligament tear begins with a physical exam and medical history. Your healthcare provider will ask what you were doing when you were injured. Feeling the site and moving the joint can tell them more about the extent of the injury. Some other tests that may be done include:
What Is an Orthopedist?
The amount of time it takes for a torn ligament to heal depends on the severity of the injury and its location. A grade 2 ankle sprain with a partial tear, for example, may take around three to six weeks to heal, while a grade 3 sprain with a full tear may take a few months.
Self-Care
The R.I.C.E. approach—rest, ice, compression, elevation—is one of the most popular “first” treatments for ligament injuries.
Medications
Your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter medication like Advil (ibuprofen). They may also prescribe medication for pain and swelling.
Physical Therapy
Once the pain and swelling improve, your healthcare provider may recommend physical therapy or home exercises to help restore the function of the ligament and joint. The recovery time can be a few weeks or up to a year, depending on the severity of the ligament tear.
How to Heal Ligaments FasterRecovering from a sprain takes time, but there are some things you can do to speed up your recovery. Importantly, make sure to rest the affected area, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions, and avoid activities that might aggravate the injury.
How to Heal Ligaments Faster
Recovering from a sprain takes time, but there are some things you can do to speed up your recovery. Importantly, make sure to rest the affected area, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions, and avoid activities that might aggravate the injury.
Bracing
A grade 2 sprain may need a brace to support it. This allows for healing of the partial ligament tear. The amount of time you’ll need to wear it will vary based on the specific injury.
Surgery
Some sprains may require surgery to repair the ligament.A separated shoulder that causes prolonged pain, for example, may be treated with surgery to help repair the torn ligament.
How to Effectively Perform R.I.C.E.
Is it OK to walk with a torn ligament?You may still be able to walk with certain ligament injuries, but it could be painful and your range of motion may be limited. As a general rule, you should avoid walking if it causes pain.
Is it OK to walk with a torn ligament?
You may still be able to walk with certain ligament injuries, but it could be painful and your range of motion may be limited. As a general rule, you should avoid walking if it causes pain.
Summary
Your healthcare provider can determine just how serious the injury is. In many cases, the tear will heal with simple R.I.C.E. measures: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. More severe cases may require immobilization, physical therapy, or surgery.
Occupational vs. Physical Therapy: Patient Questions
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Causes of sprains and strains.Grassi A, Quaglia A, Canata GL, Zaffagnini S.An update on the grading of muscle injuries: a narrative review from clinical to comprehensive systems.Joints. 2016;4(1):39-46. doi:10.11138/jts/2016.4.1.039National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Symptoms of sprains and strains.Melanson SW, Shuman VL.Acute ankle sprain. StatPearls.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee ligament repair.May Jr DD, Varacallo M.Wrist sprain. StatPearls.American Society for Surgery on the Hand.Sprained thumb.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprained thumb.Bragg KJ, Varacallo M.Cervical (whiplash) sprain. StatPearls.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Neck sprains and strains.Mayo Clinic.Back pain.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.UCSF Health.Separated shoulder.American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.Eight tests that your foot doctor may order.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Diagnosis of sprains and strains.Leong NL, Kator JL, Clemens TL, James A, Enamoto-Iwamoto M, Jiang J.Tendon and ligament healing and current approaches to tendon and ligament regeneration.J Orthop Res. 2020;38(1):7-12. doi:10.1002/jor.24475Harvard Health Publishing.Recovering from an ankle sprain.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Treatment of sprains and strains.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Causes of sprains and strains.Grassi A, Quaglia A, Canata GL, Zaffagnini S.An update on the grading of muscle injuries: a narrative review from clinical to comprehensive systems.Joints. 2016;4(1):39-46. doi:10.11138/jts/2016.4.1.039National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Symptoms of sprains and strains.Melanson SW, Shuman VL.Acute ankle sprain. StatPearls.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee ligament repair.May Jr DD, Varacallo M.Wrist sprain. StatPearls.American Society for Surgery on the Hand.Sprained thumb.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprained thumb.Bragg KJ, Varacallo M.Cervical (whiplash) sprain. StatPearls.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Neck sprains and strains.Mayo Clinic.Back pain.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.UCSF Health.Separated shoulder.American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.Eight tests that your foot doctor may order.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Diagnosis of sprains and strains.Leong NL, Kator JL, Clemens TL, James A, Enamoto-Iwamoto M, Jiang J.Tendon and ligament healing and current approaches to tendon and ligament regeneration.J Orthop Res. 2020;38(1):7-12. doi:10.1002/jor.24475Harvard Health Publishing.Recovering from an ankle sprain.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Treatment of sprains and strains.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Causes of sprains and strains.Grassi A, Quaglia A, Canata GL, Zaffagnini S.An update on the grading of muscle injuries: a narrative review from clinical to comprehensive systems.Joints. 2016;4(1):39-46. doi:10.11138/jts/2016.4.1.039National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Symptoms of sprains and strains.Melanson SW, Shuman VL.Acute ankle sprain. StatPearls.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee ligament repair.May Jr DD, Varacallo M.Wrist sprain. StatPearls.American Society for Surgery on the Hand.Sprained thumb.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprained thumb.Bragg KJ, Varacallo M.Cervical (whiplash) sprain. StatPearls.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Neck sprains and strains.Mayo Clinic.Back pain.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.UCSF Health.Separated shoulder.American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.Eight tests that your foot doctor may order.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Diagnosis of sprains and strains.Leong NL, Kator JL, Clemens TL, James A, Enamoto-Iwamoto M, Jiang J.Tendon and ligament healing and current approaches to tendon and ligament regeneration.J Orthop Res. 2020;38(1):7-12. doi:10.1002/jor.24475Harvard Health Publishing.Recovering from an ankle sprain.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Treatment of sprains and strains.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Causes of sprains and strains.
Grassi A, Quaglia A, Canata GL, Zaffagnini S.An update on the grading of muscle injuries: a narrative review from clinical to comprehensive systems.Joints. 2016;4(1):39-46. doi:10.11138/jts/2016.4.1.039
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Symptoms of sprains and strains.
Melanson SW, Shuman VL.Acute ankle sprain. StatPearls.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Knee ligament repair.
May Jr DD, Varacallo M.Wrist sprain. StatPearls.
American Society for Surgery on the Hand.Sprained thumb.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprained thumb.
Bragg KJ, Varacallo M.Cervical (whiplash) sprain. StatPearls.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Neck sprains and strains.
Mayo Clinic.Back pain.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.
UCSF Health.Separated shoulder.
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.Eight tests that your foot doctor may order.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Diagnosis of sprains and strains.
Leong NL, Kator JL, Clemens TL, James A, Enamoto-Iwamoto M, Jiang J.Tendon and ligament healing and current approaches to tendon and ligament regeneration.J Orthop Res. 2020;38(1):7-12. doi:10.1002/jor.24475
Harvard Health Publishing.Recovering from an ankle sprain.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Treatment of sprains and strains.
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