Diagnosis

Your physician will take your history and physical exam, which will aid in making the proper diagnosis. During the exam your physician may also perform a variety of tests to determine if the knee is unstable.

Your physician may take an X-ray to rule out a broken bone, but this won't show if a collateral ligament is torn. An MRI, which shows ligaments and other soft tissues in the body, is needed for a more complete diagnosis of your injury.