Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears

About Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Sprains

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is an important ligament that checks the backward sliding of the tibia (shin) bone on the femur (thigh) bone in the knee. This ligament can be injured with sports or falls, especially with blows to the front of the knee while the foot is planted on the ground.

The PCL can be sprained. Sprains are classified according to their severity, with grades I through III. Grades I and II are often treatable without surgery, while grade III is a complete tear and typically requires surgery.

With a sprain, the ligament is overstretched and micro-tearing results, causing pain and inflammation. There is little blood flow to the ligaments and they get most of their nutrition from the joint fluid. This means, that their healing is slower than most other tissues. Depending on the severity of the sprain and joint stability the potential for future injury can increase.

With grade III PCL tears, surgery is most likely needed to repair. Physical therapy is vital to rehabilitation after this surgery. Recovery does take time and the goal is to protect the surgical site, maintaining joint stability while returning into walking and eventually running.

How physical therapy helps:

Our physical therapists work with patients of all ages, especially those who have sustained PCL tears through sports activities or motor vehicle accidents. We work closely with your physician to examine the stability of your knee after the PCL injury. There are specific tests that we perform to assess the stability of the ligament and to determine the best course of action to maximize your recovery.  Most grade I and grade II sprains can be rehabilitated without the need for surgery and our physical therapists will discuss your options.

If surgery is needed for your recovery, rest assured that you are in the right hands for your rehabilitation. We work closely with your surgeon’s rehabilitation protocol. The priority is to manage your pain and swelling after surgery, gradually increasing your knee range of motion per your post-surgery protocol.

As time progresses, we work with you to regain your strength, improve joint stability, resume walking normally, and eventually introduce advanced movements including running. Call Bay State Physical Therapy today to discover how we can help you bounce back after a PCL tear.