Understanding Ligament Injuries
Ligaments are strong bands that connect bone to bone and hold joints stable. A ligament injury — a sprain or tear — stretches or ruptures these stabilisers, and if it heals loose the joint can become unstable and prone to recurrent injury.
Injuries are graded by severity, and accurate grading guides treatment. Lower-grade injuries usually recover with rehabilitation, while complete tears causing instability may need reconstruction, particularly in the knee.
Symptoms to look for
Causes & risk factors
- Twisting, pivoting or an awkward landing
- A direct impact in contact sport
- A previous injury weakening the ligament
How it's diagnosed
Stability testing on clinical examination to grade the injury.
MRI to confirm the ligament tear and check for associated damage.
What happens if it's left untreated
- Ongoing instability leading to further injury
- Early joint wear from repeated giving-way
- Reduced ability to return to sport
How we treat it
What to expect
Lower-grade injuries recover with rehabilitation over weeks. Reconstruction for unstable joints recovers over several months with a staged return to sport.
How to protect yourself
Frequently asked questions
No — many are managed with rehabilitation. Surgery is for instability or high sporting demand, particularly in the knee.