Posterior cruciate ligament injury – symptoms, causes and stabilizing knee braces
Posterior cruciate ligament injury is a less common knee injury than anterior cruciate ligament injury but has a significant impact on stability when it occurs. The injury is most often caused by a heavy blow or fall to the knee joint and can cause severe instability in everyday life and sports. Rehabilitation is extensive and often requires surgery in combination with long-term physiotherapy.
What is a posterior cruciate ligament injury?
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is one of the most important stabilizing ligaments in the knee joint and prevents the lower leg from being pushed backwards in relation to the femur. The injury often occurs in sports with hard collisions or in traffic accidents. Depending on the extent, the injury is divided into three degrees, from stretching to complete rupture.
Common causes & risk factors
Posterior cruciate ligament injuries usually require a lot of force. They are most often triggered when the lower leg is pushed back strongly, for example, in ice hockey, football or when falling on a bent knee. Traffic accidents are another common cause. Sports with a lot of close contact or where the knee joint is exposed to high loads pose a greater risk.
Symptoms
- Rapid swelling and pain in the knee joint after the injury
- Stiffness and reduced mobility in the knee
- Feeling of instability, especially when carrying weight or walking downhill
- In case of total rupture, there is clear functional impairment in the knee joint.
When should you seek medical attention?
A posterior cruciate ligament injury is always serious. If you suspect a PCL injury, you should seek medical attention immediately for examination, investigation, and treatment planning.
Recommended protection & support
In the case of a posterior cruciate ligament injury (PCL injury), a stabilising knee brace is often used to provide lateral stability, movement control and the ability to limit flexion in the knee joint. The knee brace can be used both before and after surgery to support the joint in everyday life and training. Rehabilitation always takes place in close collaboration with a physiotherapist and can be combined with the brace to regain stability and function. See all our products for the knee and knee joint here.
About our Injury Guide – quick guidance in case of complaints
In our Injury Guide, you will receive clear and easy-to-understand information about common injuries, how they occur and what symptoms usually occur. You will also receive recommendations on which protection and aids can relieve your discomfort and help you further in your rehabilitation. All information is based on expert knowledge from our licensed physiotherapist.
For more information about the knee, you can read more in the Injury Guide Knee. You can also go to the Injury Guide main page to read about other injuries and symptoms.
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There are several ways to find the right product on our website. For a more personalised selection, you can use our filters and sort by injury, body part or sport. You can also get help from our AI assistant Eir, who is trained on all the content on our website and can help you with product recommendations, fit questions and order-related concerns – 24/7. If you would rather speak directly to our licensed physiotherapist, Ida, you can reach her via email or phone for personal advice and support in your product selection.
