Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry left the game late in the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks on March 24 after teammate JaVale McGee collapsed on his left leg. Curry hobbled off the court gripping his left knee. Later, the team confirmed a grade two medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain.

The MCL connects the top of the tibia to the femur in a way that keeps the leg from buckling outward. Spraining (partial or complete tearing) the MCL is common in contact sports such as basketball or football. A grade two sprain means that there is substantial partial tearing (many fibers are torn), but that the ligament is still structurally sound. An MCL injury can be diagnosed on examination. An MRI is not particularly helpful, and the average person would not have an MRI. MRIs seem to be overused among athletes, probably because of the small chance that there is another injury (e.g. to the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL) and the pressure to return to play quickly.

MCL sprains heal without surgery. With partial tears, return to activity is based largely on comfort and risk tolerance. Keeping the knee moving is healthy. Sports places the ligament at risk of worse pathology if there is another injury.

This article was made by Paul Bonilla and David Ring