Tissues called ligaments hold bones together at all movable joints. Ligaments consist of a very strong and elastic material that extends from one bone to another across a joint. Because ligaments can stretch, muscles are free to move bones back and forth at the joint. Ligaments also limit the range of motion of the joint so that the joint doesn’t move in such a way that will cause damage.
Consider the knee. Four main ligaments are in the knee. Two surround the outside of the knee, and two are underneath the kneecap. All four connect the femur in the upper leg to the tibia and fibula in the lower leg.
When you move a joint too far, the result is often a sprain: overstretching or even tearing a ligament in a joint. Small sprains might take a few days to recover, but severe sprains can take months to heal. Some sprains may even require surgery to repair, depending on how bad it is. When you sprain a joint--the most common being the ankle--the initial treatment is called the RICE method. (Always seek a doctor’s input, though, on any serious injury!)
R: Rest as much as possible for the first two days.
I: Apply an ice pack every two to three hours during the first 48 hours after injury.
C: Wrap the affected area with an elastic bandage.
E: Raise the body part above the level of the heart.
One of the most common knee injuries is a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. An injury to this ligament could require surgery to repair.
Reflection
Question
Describe the importance of ligaments.
Ligaments allow joints to move in specific ways and protect the joint from moving too far. This allows the body to move without injury to the joints and bones.
