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Your knees are some of the most important joints in your body. As the largest joint in the body, the knee is an essential part of movement. Knee ligaments connect your thighbone to the lower leg bones. Sprains or tears to the knee ligament are common and can be debilitating. There are 3 different types of sprains that vary in severity.<\/p>\n
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Bones connect to other bones thanks to ligaments. The thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia) and kneecap (patella) all combine to for your knee. The kneecap falls in front of the joint to protect these bones. There are four ligaments in the knee that act as strong ropes to hold the bones together and stabilize your knee.<\/p>\n
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Collateral Ligaments<\/strong><\/p>\n These fall on the sides of your knee and control the sideways motion of your knee. They protect your knees during unusual movements. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of th knee and the lateral collateral ligament is on the outside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cruciate Ligaments<\/strong><\/p>\n Theese ligaments are inside the knee joint, and cross to form an \u201cX.\u201d The anterior cruciate ligament is in the front and the posterior cruciate ligament is in the back. The cruciate ligament moves your knee back and forth during motion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The knees depend on the ligaments for stability throughout motion. Any direct collision to the knee or hard muscle contraction, such as changing direction rapidly, can cause damage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nTypes of Sprains<\/h2>\n