13. Ligament Strains
Knee sprains typically involve the ligaments of the knee. The injury may strain one or multiple tendons in the joint, including damage to the ACL, MCL, LCL, or PCL. With ACL sprains, the patient has trouble with supporting their weight, and they may also notice a popping sound as the injury occurs. ACL injuries are the most common type of damage to the ligaments of the knee.
If you sprain your PCL, it may cause symptoms of pain and swelling in the back of the knee, as well as the development of a “Bakers cyst,” a golf ball-sized cyst that may protrude from the rear of the knee, under the surface of the skin. This cyst makes the knee feel tight when flexing, and you may experience pain if you try to kneel, even on a soft surface like a bed.
Patients with LCL and MCL sprains may experience issues with the structural integrity of the knee, and the joint may feel like it wants to buckle toward the opposite side of the injury.