PCL Tear

What is a PCL tear?

A PCL tear is a knee injury that occurs when the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which is a ligament that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), is stretched, partially torn, or completely ruptured. The PCL stabilizes the knee and prevents the tibia from moving too far backward. There are different grades of injury as follows:

Grade 1: partial tear
Grade 2: partial tear and ligament feels loose
Grade 3: ligament is completely torn and knee is unstable
Grade 4: the PCL is injured AND another knee ligament is damaged

Symptoms

Pain at the back of the knee that may worsen over time
Swelling and inflammation
Stiffness or limited range of motion
Feeling of instability or looseness in the knee
Difficulty walking, especially downhill or downstairs
Trouble bearing weight or standing for long periods

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if the knee rapidly swells or feels unstable, you experience pain after a fall, cannot fully straighten or bend the knee, or your leg feels numb, cold, or has a different color.

Prevention

Avoid landing with knees fully bent or locked after jumps
Wear properly fitted knee pads
Avoid repeatedly landing on the same leg
Strengthen quadriceps, hamstring, and glutes:
- Wall sit
- Single-leg raise
- Single-leg bridge
- Figure 4 stretch
- Standing glute stretch

Recovery

RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate)
NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen) to manage pain and inflammation
Do not play through the pain
Crutches can be used to walk until swelling and pain improves
A brace will most likely be needed to stabilize the knee
Surgery is almost always required for grade 3 and 4 tears