Orthopedics Torn Ligament Overview A ligament is fibrous tissue that can tear when a joint is overstretched. By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 22, 2021 Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jonathan Cluett, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What it Is Symptoms Locations Diagnosis Treatment A torn ligament is a painful injury that may be accompanied by swelling and bruising. It usually occurs due to extreme force to a joint, such as with a fall or another high-impact event. Common ligament tears happen in the ankle, knee, wrist, thumb, neck, or back. 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. Image Source / Getty Images What Is a Torn Ligament? A ligament is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone. It also connects bones to cartilage, 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, of sprain injury. 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. Symptoms of a Torn Ligament A ligament tear is painful and tender to the touch. You may see swelling and bruising. It may be difficult to move the joint. In the case of some ligaments, you may hear a pop or feel tearing at the time of the injury. It 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. A torn ligament makes the joint harder to move. It makes the joint looser than usual, which means you are unable to move the joint normally. Soft Tissue Types and Examples Where Ligament Tears Are Most Common Ankle: Ligament tears are most common toward the outer side of your ankle at what's called the lateral ligament complex. It includes the anterior talofibular (ATFL), the calcaneofibular (CFL), and posterior talofibular (PTFL) ligaments. The medial deltoid ligament, toward the inside, is injured less often. A high ankle sprain is more often seen in competitive athletes. Knee: The four major knee ligaments are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The ACL tear is the most common of these injuries. Wrist: There are 20 ligaments in the wrist. Tears will most often occur when you fall on an outstretched hand. The scapholunate and the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) are the most common ones injured. Other common sites of ligament tears and the possible causes behind them include: Thumb: The ulnar collateral ligament can be torn when skiing (the injury is often called skier's thumb) or in a fall when the thumb is bent in an extreme position. Neck: The neck's ligaments can be torn during whiplash injuries, as in a car accident. The hard speed-and-stop is an extreme motion that injures the cervical spine, the part of the spine in the neck. The ligament tear is just one part of a whiplash injury. It may also damage muscles, nerves, and bones. Back: The ligaments in your back can be torn by lifting something that is too heavy. Recap A ligament tear is an injury caused by an extreme motion, like a forceful twisting of a joint. A tear usually causes immediate pain and perhaps even a "pop" sound at the site of injury when it occurs. Depending on the severity of the injury, the affected site may become unstable. Diagnosis 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. The next step is often to perform an X-ray to look for fractured or broken bones. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to see if there is a partial or complete ligament tear. Sprains are graded to describe the extent of the tearing. Grade 1: A mild sprain that damages the ligament but does not cause significant tearing.Grade 2: A moderate sprain that includes a partial tear. The joint may be abnormally loose.Grade 3: A severe sprain with a complete ligament tear. The joint is unstable, and you cannot use it. What Is an Orthopedist? Treatment The R.I.C.E. approach—rest, ice, compression, elevation—is one of the most popular "first" treatments for ligament injuries. Rest: First, stop any activity that stresses the injured joint. This allows time for it to recover.Ice: To minimize the swelling and pain, apply an ice pack to the injured area.Compression: To further reduce the swelling, wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage.Elevation: Raise the injured area above heart level to help control blood flow and minimize swelling. How to Effectively Perform R.I.C.E. Your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter medication like Advil (ibuprofen). They may also prescribe medication for pain and swelling. A grade 2 sprain may need a brace to support it. This allows for healing of the partial ligament tear. How long you need to wear it will vary based on the specific injury. A grade 3 sprain may require surgery to repair the ligament. 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. Summary A ligament tear is a sudden and painful injury, caused by activities like playing sports or lifting heavy objects. It causes a sprain, with the severity ranging from grade 1 to grade 3. 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. Understanding If You Need Physical Therapy 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to 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. 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. Thumb sprains. Bragg KJ, Varacallo M. Cervical (whiplash) sprain. StatPearls. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Low back pain fact sheet. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Diagnosis 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 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. By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit