Behind your knee cap are two really important ligaments that form an X which hold your femur and tibia bones together. They’re two of the most important ligaments which help your leg bend at the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are the two ligaments which help keep the knee from hyper-extending or bending sideways. The ACL keeps the bottom part of your leg from moving too far forward and the PCL keeps it from moving too far backward. 

A PCL injury is a rare sports injury that occurs in any athlete who has explosive acceleration, agility, and cutting movements as part of their regular activity. Of course, it doesn’t always happen to athletes. There are traumas, such as a car wreck, which can cause damage to the PCL. These injuries are classified by severity as Grade 1 through 3. Grade 1 is a hyperextension where the ligament is stretched beyond what it was meant to. Grade 2 is when that stretching turns into a slight tear. Grade 3 is when the ligament is torn all the way through. With a PCL injury, your knee will feel unstable and you will have pain on the inside of your knee which can also extend up to your hip and even down the inside of your thigh.

If you’ve recently injured your knee and wondering if it was a PCL injury, there are some notable symptoms; Pain in the back of your knee and swelling in the knee. If you’re experiencing those symptoms, it’s important to see Dr. Hall at Chattanooga Non-Surgical Orthopedics to diagnose the issue and rule out any other potential injuries. The sooner you address the injury, the better off your recovery process will be.

Contact us now: 423-499-0003 and go online to complete new patient paperwork to speed the process!

In the meantime, one of the most important things you can do is keep your knee properly braced and supported. If you hurt your PCL, it is absolutely essential that you treat it as soon as possible. The sooner you grab an appointment,, the sooner you will be able to get back on track, out of pain, and back on the field, court, or trail!

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