What Physical Therapists NEED to Know About PCL Injuries

By dpope2020

April 4, 2025

causes of pcl injury, dan pope, fitness pain free, how to assess the posterior cruciate ligament., Knee, knee anatomy, knee injury, knee pain, knee surgery, ligament, ligament injury, orthopedic, orthopedic surgery, orthopedics, pcl, pcl injuries, pcl injury, pcl tear, physical therapy, physiotherapy, posterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament injuries, posterior cruciate ligament injury, posterior sag, Rehabilitation, sports injury, sports medicine

What Physical Therapists NEED to Know About PCL Injuries

To go along with today's video I have a nice infographic to share...

Sign up to receive FREE: PCL Injury Evidence Based "Cheat Sheet"

Click HERE to Download FREE

Grab the rest of the Mini Course and Sign up for the Certification Pre-sale list:

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:

Want to support me and decide topics for future episodes?  Click HERE to sign up for FPF "Insiders" for just a dollar. You'll gain access to 100+ webinars, e-books and complete guides.  Plus, you'll get private access to the "Insiders" Facebook group where you can have all of your questions answered by me.  

Looking for other ways to support me that are 100% free?

  • Like, comment and share on youtube, facebook and instagram 
  • Leave a 5-star review on apple podcasts

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.

  7. Kopkow C, Freiberg A, Kirschner S, Seidler A, Schmitt J. Physical examination tests for the diagnosis of posterior cruciate ligament rupture: a systematic review. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013 Nov;43(11):804-13. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2013.4906. Epub 2013 Oct 11. PMID: 24175598.

  8. Rubinstein RA Jr, Shelbourne KD, McCarroll JR, VanMeter CD, Rettig AC. The accuracy of the clinical examination in the setting of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1994 Jul-Aug;22(4):550-7. doi: 10.1177/036354659402200419. PMID: 7943523.

  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.