PCL injury
Posterior Cruciate Ligament injuries are much less common than ACL injuries. PCL injuries occur when the PCL of the knee gets overstretched, and tears. The PCL is one of the main stabilizing ligaments of the knee.
The PCL can be injured in several ways:
Hyperextension of the knee (bends too far back)
Knee twisting injury
Sudden force through the top of the shin bone
Trauma forcing tibia backwards
Symptoms
Pain
Pain from a PCL tear is usually mild to moderate and may affect how you walk. Squatting is usually painful, particularly at approximately ninety degrees of knee flexion. Resisted knee flexion typically causes pain.
Swelling
In the knee is usually mild to moderate. It tends to come on rapidly in the first few hours after injury. There may also be mild, slow swelling of the calf due to a synovial tear where the fluids slowly seeps downwards into the calf
Instability
The knee may feel slightly unsteady or like it is going to give way, but it is rare that it actually does collapse
How does an PCL injury get diagnosed?
A medical professional will diagnose a PCL injury by performing a knee examination to see if the tibia bone moves back too far when the knee is bent.
In a resting position with the knee bent, there should be a continuous, flat line from the kneecap down the shin. An MRI or arthroscopic inspection will identify the severity of injury. A minor or partial tear of the ACL may require Physiotherapy rehabilitation exercises and not require surgical treatment. A complete tear is more serious, especially in younger athletes, and may require surgery. An x-ray may be done if an avulsion fracture is suspected with your PCL tear, where the ligament has torn off from its attachment bringing a small fragment of bone with it.
The symptoms of a PCL injury are sometimes quite mild, and as a result it often goes unnoticed. Lingering problems with the knee not feeling quite right are often what leads to a diagnosis.
How are PCL tears treated?
Non Surgical treatment: Physiotherapy
Maybe used because of a patient’s age or overall low activity level.
Recommended if the overall stability of the knee seems good.
Involves a treatment of muscle strengthening, often with the use of a brace to provide stability.
Physical therapy to regain the strength, particularly of the quadriceps, mobility and stability of the knee is vital to ensure a full recovery and to prevent any long-term instability which can lead to arthritis
Surgical treatment
Repairment or reconstruction of PCL, followed by Physiotherapy
*Disclaimer
Our therapists provide injury treatment, advice, prevention, and rehabilitation exercises through sports massage, deep tissue massage, exercise programming and physiotherapy.
We provide educational content for informational purposes only. Aways seek a medical professionals care and advice regarding injuries.