Search results
- Exercise therapy. “Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joint to help stabilize it and compensate for the injured PCL,” says Dr. Kimbrough. “It also helps manage swelling and prevents any loss of range of motion and strength after an injury.” Ice and heat. Icing can help reduce swelling and pain immediately following an injury.
www.hingehealth.com › resources › articlesPosterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury: Symptoms and Treatment
People also ask
What are the PCL sprain rehabilitation exercises?
Can a PCL injury cause a knee injury?
Which knee angle is best for PCL loading?
Feb 27, 2016 · PCL – Non Operative Rehabilitation Guideline. This rehabilitation program is designed to return the individual to their activities as quickly and safely as possible. It is designed for rehabilitation following a PCL injury/tear, typically grade I and II.
- 331KB
- 4
- When Might Surgery Be Required?
- Torn PCL Rehabilitation Program
- Torn PCL Exercises – Mobility
- Torn PCL Exercises – Early Strengthening
- Torn PCL Exercises – Late-Stage Strengthening
Surgery for a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament is often required when other structures in the knee are also damaged. For example, the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, orlateral ligament sprains. Also, if you have rotational laxity in your knee. This means your lower leg twists more than normal in relation to the upper leg...
Phase 1: Immediately following injury
Aims– To control swelling, maintain the ability to straighten and bend the leg, and begin strengthening exercises for the leg muscles when possible. Duration– 2 weeks. Rest from aggravating activities. Use crutches if necessary. Complete rest for the first 48 hours, after that, let pain be the guide to the speed of progression of rehabilitation. Apply cold therapyand compression as soon as possible following injury and for 15 minutes every 2 hours for the next 24 to 48 hours. The frequency of...
Phase 2: After week 2
Aims– To completely eliminate swelling, regain full mobility, and build on strengthening exercises. By the end of this phase, the athlete may be able to do ‘proper’ cycling or light swimming. Duration– 2 weeks. Apply cold therapy and compression 3 times a day until swelling is eliminated. Once this is achieved, apply cold after every training session. Mobility exercises – continue to work on these if full mobility has not been achieved. Otherwise, progress onto more usual stretching exercises...
Phase 3: After week 4
Aims– To regain full strength and begin to return to sports-specific training. Duration– 2 weeks. Apply cold therapy and compression following training sessions for 15 to 20 minutes to help prevent swelling from returning. Stretching exercises for calf muscles, hamstrings, quadriceps, adductors, and abductors. Progress strength exercises from phase 2 by increasing resistance and moving from double-leg exercises to single-leg exercises. Plyometric exercises (hopping and bounding may be possibl...
Basic mobility exercises that may be used as part of a rehab program for a posterior cruciate ligament injury.
Static quads seated
1. Contract the quadriceps muscles and hold for 5 to 10 seconds. 2. Relax for about 3 seconds and repeat 10 to 20 times. 3. Place the fingers on the muscle towards the inside of the leg above the knee (vastus medialis muscle). 4. It is important that this muscle is developed and this one should be felt contracting whilst performing the exercises. 5. This exercise can also be done in a standing position.
Isometric hamstring contractions for PCL rehabilitation
1. Lie on your front in the prone position. 2. A partner or therapist provides resistance as you contract the hamstring muscles, hold for 3 or 4 seconds then relax. 3. Chane the amount your knee is bent to work the muscle at different lengths. 4. Once a range of angles has been worked repeat the exercises with your foot turned outwards and again with your foot turned inwards. 5. This exercise targets the inner and outer hamstring muscles at varying angles of flexion or knee bend.
Calf raises
1. Simply raising up and down on the toes, keeping the legs straight. 2. Aim for 3 sets of 10 to 20 repetitions daily. 3. This exercise can be progressed later in the rehabilitation process by doing single leg calf raises and then single leg calf raises without leaning against a wall or holding onto anything.
Hamstring curls
1. These can be done initially against a wall with no weight, using a rehabilitation band, and eventually with a specialist weights machine. 2. Curl up against resistance and down again in one smooth movement. 3. Aim for 3 sets of 10 to 20 repetitions. 4. As strength increases and resistance increases then more recovery time may be required between sessions.
Quarter squats
1. Squat down to about a quarter of the way down and return to the starting position. 2. Aim for 3 sets of 10 to 20 repetitions. 3. Progress this by going down to halfway (Phase 3 of rehabilitation) and then full squats (to horizontal) in the sports-specific stages. 4. Increase the intensity by adding weight. 5. Ensure stomach muscles are kept firm when performing squats.
Back to top. How Does It Feel? With an injured PCL, you may experience: Sharp or dull pain deep inside the knee joint or the back of the knee. Pain in the knee when squatting to lift a heavy load. Pain when walking over an unstable surface or longer distances. Significant swelling throughout the knee. Stiffness in the knee.
Therapeutic Exercise: exercise progressions below should be in respect to timeline of healing as well as patient ability to perform appropriately, if unable to perform with proper form, delay adding to program. Weeks 4-8: Wall slides (0-45 degrees knee flexion) Leg press (0-60 degrees knee flexion)
- 426KB
- 7
Sep 10, 2021 · Bracing your knee can address instability — a common PCL symptom. Physical therapy. Certain exercises can help strengthen and stabilize your knee. Surgery. If your PCL injury is severe, surgery may be necessary for full rehabilitation. In most cases, knee arthroscopy is performed to reconstruct your ligament. This procedure is less invasive ...
Open chain knee extension exercises allowed IF no patellofemoral symptoms Quadriceps sets and terminal knee extension. May perform hip extenslon with knee extenslon. No hamstring exercises ulth knee flexed. Bike Mini-squats 0-60 degrees Leg press 0-60 degrees Contlnue anterior drawer with knee flexion as above. Phase IV - Weeks 5-8
Introduction. Here are some examples of exercises for you to try. The exercises may be suggested for a condition or for rehabilitation. Start each exercise slowly. Ease off the exercises if you start to have pain. You will be told when to start these exercises and which ones will work best for you. How to do the exercises.
