Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries

The PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) is an important stabilising structure in the knee which acts in supporting your shin bone under your thigh bone and preventing it from excessive backward movement during loading.

Cause of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Injuries to the PCL often occur when the knee is bent and there is excessive force translated onto the front of your knee (e.g., the knee clashing with an opponent’s knee, falling onto a bent knee or in a motor vehicle accident).

Symptoms of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Patients with PCL deficiency (or an injured PCL) may experience a ‘delayed take off’ sensation, trouble with slowing down from running, intolerance to kneeling or landing on the knee, or lack of confidence in their knee.

Treatment of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Depending on their severity and complexity (i.e., if other structures are damaged in combination with the PCL), PCL injuries are managed solely with rehabilitation physiotherapy, with bracing and rehabilitation alone, or with a combination of surgery, bracing and rehabilitation. Our physiotherapists will help determine the best form of management for your PCL injury and can guide you throughout its rehabilitation.

Luke Chetcuti,

Sports Physiotherapist