A PCL sprain is characterized as a tear to the posterior cruciate ligament in the knee. The PCL is crucial in stabilizing the knee, as well as keeping your knee properly aligned,as it connects the femur to the tibia. PCL sprains usually happen when the knee is hit when bent. It is common for a PCL tear to affect other parts of the knee, such as other ligaments.
Three grades of PCL sprains directly relating to the severity of the injury:
- Grade 1 – Least severe grade; minor damage to PCL, but still supports knee.
- Grade 2 – PCL is stretched and partially torn, knee is somewhat unstable.
- Grade 3 – Most severe grade; PCL is torn or completely separated from where it attaches.
What is the cause of PCL Sprains?
The two most common causes of PCL sprains are automobile accidents and contact sports. In automobile accidents, a passenger or driver’s knee slams against the dashboard in a bent position. In contact sports such as football, a tackle or blow to the knee when the knee is bent can also injure an athlete’s PCL. The shear force of the impact can move the tibia backwards and stretch the PCL to a point of tearing.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain in knee, accompanied by swelling
- Knee is unstable and may give out
- Painful to walk on
Dr. Petersen is well trained to correctly diagnose and treat PCL sprains. See below for all of the different methods that we incorporate in your treatment of knee pain.
Tests
We can order imaging tests to properly assess what is causing your symptoms.
- MRI
An MRI can show how much damage and to what degree the knee has been affected.
Treatments
Treatment in our office is broken down into three segments:
- Pain reduction
Stopping or decreasing the activity that is causing the pain is the main goal of our first treatment segment. Applying ice and heat alternatively throughout the day will help with both pain and inflammation. Our Class 4 laser treatment is very effective for this segment. - A range of treatments to restore oxygen and nutrients to the damaged tissue
- ART active release technique
- Class 4 laser
- Graston Technique Therapy
Successful in effectively treating all soft tissue conditions, whether they are chronic, acute or post- surgical. - E-stim
Electric muscle stimulation using a device that delivers electronic pulses to motor nerves through electrodes placed on the skin, causing a motor response to achieve a number of desired results. - Cold laser
- Ultrasound
- Soft tissue work
- Exercise
We offer a very effective Physiotherapy regiment to both decrease pain and restore proper function.