What Physical Therapists NEED to Know About PCL Injuries

By dpope2020

April 4, 2025

What Physical Therapists NEED to Know About PCL Injuries

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In today's video we go over: What Physical Therapists NEED to Know About PCL Injuries - FPF Show Episode 166

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 1:23 Prevalence of and common populations with PCL sprain injuries
  • 2:50 Functional anatomy of the PCL ligament
  • 3:22 Does the PCL ligament heal well?
  • 7:10 Should the knee be braced after a PCL sprain injury? (PCL Jack Brace)
  • 8:30 How to grade the severity of a PCL injury
  • 10:39 What is the function of the PCL? (what movements does it resist?)
  • 11:47 What muscles help to support the PCL (dynamic stabilizers)
  • 13:18 What is the mechanism of injury for PCL sprains?
  • 19:25 History and physical examination of PCL sprains
  • 20:55 Special tests for PCL injuries
  • 22:27 Are X-rays and MRIs useful for diagnosing PCL sprains?
  • 29:49 Differential diagnosis of PCL sprain injuries
  • 32:31 Conservative vs. Surgical Management of PCL injuries
  • 39:40 Do patients with PCL tears have higher rates of arthritis or meniscus injuries?
  • 41:40 What are the return to sports rates of conservative vs. surgical management of PCL injuries?
  • 43:23 What should a physical therapy rehabilitation program look like after a PCL injury?
  • 54:33 Who should have surgery after a PCL injury? (surgical candidates)
  • 56:36 What are the surgical options following PCL tears?
  • 58:11 How successful is PCL surgery? (reconstruction outcomes & failure rates)
  • 1:02:50 What are the return to sport rates after PCL-reconstruction surgery?
  • 1:09:01 Physical therapy rehabilitation guidelines following PCL-reconstruction surgery
  • 1:13:07 What Physical Therapists Need to Know About ACL Injuries

My PCLs are fried...

- Dan Pope DPT,OCS,CSCS

Show Notes / Relevant Articles:

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Thank you!

Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS

References: 

  1. Wang D, Graziano J, Williams RJ 3rd, Jones KJ. Nonoperative Treatment of PCL Injuries: Goals of Rehabilitation and the Natural History of Conservative Care. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018 Jun;11(2):290-297. doi: 10.1007/s12178-018-9487-y. PMID: 29721691; PMCID: PMC5970122.

  2. Wang SH, Chien WC, Chung CH, Wang YC, Lin LC, Pan RY. Long-term results of posterior cruciate ligament tear with or without reconstruction: A nationwide, population-based cohort study. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 3;13(10):e0205118. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205118. PMID: 30281658; PMCID: PMC6169976.

  3. Pache S, Aman ZS, Kennedy M, Nakama GY, Moatshe G, Ziegler C, LaPrade RF. Posterior Cruciate Ligament: Current Concepts Review. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2018 Jan;6(1):8-18. PMID: 29430489; PMCID: PMC5799606.

  4. Mariani PP, Margheritini F, Christel P, Bellelli A. Evaluation of posterior cruciate ligament healing: a study using magnetic resonance imaging and stress radiography. Arthroscopy. 2005 Nov;21(11):1354-61. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2005.07.028. PMID: 16325087.

  5. Pache S, Aman ZS, Kennedy M, Nakama GY, Moatshe G, Ziegler C, LaPrade RF. Posterior Cruciate Ligament: Current Concepts Review. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2018 Jan;6(1):8-18. PMID: 29430489; PMCID: PMC5799606.

  6. Agolley D, Gabr A, Benjamin-Laing H, Haddad FS. Successful return to sports in athletes following non-operative management of acute isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuries: medium-term follow-up. Bone Joint J. 2017 Jun;99-B(6):774-778. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.99B6.37953. PMID: 28566396.

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  9. Rupp GE, Adrian KMV, Bomar JD, Chau J, Pennock AT, Edmonds EW. Comparison of Outcomes in Pediatric and Adolescent Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries With and Without Meniscal Tears: Operative Versus Nonoperative Management. Orthop J Sports Med. 2024 Jan 22;12(1):23259671231222281. doi: 10.1177/23259671231222281. PMID: 38264411; PMCID: PMC10804905.

  10. Wang D, Graziano J, Williams RJ 3rd, Jones KJ. Nonoperative Treatment of PCL Injuries: Goals of Rehabilitation and the Natural History of Conservative Care. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018 Jun;11(2):290-297. doi: 10.1007/s12178-018-9487-y. PMID: 29721691; PMCID: PMC5970122.

  11. Paroneto AC, Gomes PS, Carrijo PV, Cohen M, Ramos LA. Outcomes After Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Suture Tape Augmentation and an Accelerated Rehabilitation Protocol: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Feb 6;13(2):23259671241308590. doi: 10.1177/23259671241308590. PMID: 39926586; PMCID: PMC11806459.

  12. Zsidai B, Winkler PW, Naarup E, Olsson E, Horvath A, Moatshe G, Lind M, Musahl V, Hamrin Senorski E, Samuelsson K. Evaluation of Factors Associated With Short-term Failure After Primary Isolated PCL Reconstruction: A Study of Patients From the Swedish and Norwegian Knee Ligament Registries. Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Jan 3;13(1):23259671241305191. doi: 10.1177/23259671241305191. PMID: 39758146; PMCID: PMC11700431.

  13. Montgomery SR, Johnson JS, McAllister DR, Petrigliano FA. Surgical management of PCL injuries: indications, techniques, and outcomes. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2013 Jun;6(2):115-23. doi: 10.1007/s12178-013-9162-2. PMID: 23430587; PMCID: PMC3702782.

  14. Pizza N, Di Paolo S, Grassi A, Pagano A, Viotto M, Dal Fabbro G, Agostinone P, Lucidi GA, Monllau JC, Zaffagnini S. Good long-term patients reported outcomes, return-to-work and return-to-sport rate and survivorship after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based multiligament knee injuries (MLKI) with posteromedial corner tears as significant risk factor for failure. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2023 Nov;31(11):5018-5024. doi: 10.1007/s00167-023-07547-0. Epub 2023 Sep 5. PMID: 37668614; PMCID: PMC10598146.

  15. Paroneto AC, Gomes PS, Carrijo PV, Cohen M, Ramos LA. Outcomes After Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Suture Tape Augmentation and an Accelerated Rehabilitation Protocol: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Feb 6;13(2):23259671241308590. doi: 10.1177/23259671241308590. PMID: 39926586; PMCID: PMC11806459.