Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: What You Knee'd to Know
In order to gain a basic understanding of what a posterior cruciate ligament injury is, it helps to know what exactly a ligament is. In short, ligaments are the strong bands of tissue that attach one bone to another bone. The cruciate ligaments connect the thighbone, also known as the femur, to the shin bone, known as the tibia. Forming a cross in the center of the knee are the anterior and cruciate ligaments.
Typically, an injury to the cruciate ligament is less painful than one to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It can, however, sideline the patient for several weeks.
The posterior cruciate ligament can tear if you incur a fall on a bent knee or if your shin bone is significantly traumatized just below the knee. Contact sports are a breeding ground for this type of injury. Football and soccer players might tear the posterior cruciate ligament when falling on bended knee with their foot pointed down. A ball player who is tackled when his knee is bent is at risk for this type of injury.
Auto accidents can cause the driver or a passenger to slam a bent knee against the dashboard, thereby pushing in the shin bone right below the knee, causing the ligament to tear.
You can also sustain injury to your posterior cruciate ligament if you bend or extend your knee past its normal position, or if you get hit on the side of your knee when your leg is twisted. (Guess it is time to put away the game of Twister!)
If you are a man, your are more likely to injure your posterior cruciate ligament than if you are a woman, simply because men are more involved in the contact sports of football and soccer.
The main symptoms to alert you to possible injury to this ligament include mild or moderate pain in the knee. The knee may quickly become swollen and tender. When kneeling or squatting, you may experience some discomfort. You may notice a slight limp when you walk. Your knee may begin to feel unstable or loose, perhaps giving away when you engage in certain activities. Running or walking up and down stairs may be painful.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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