The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) crosses inside of the knee joint with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), connecting the thighbone to the leg. PCL tears are not as common as ACL tears, but can result from certain twisting movements, falls or direct contact to the knee or shinbone during contact sports.
PCL Tear Symptoms
The initial symptoms for a PCL tear can be vague. You may not know you have a PCL injury until the pain worsens over time and your knee feels unstable. PCL tears can cause:
- Knee pain ranging from mild to moderate
- Rapid knee swelling and tenderness
- Pain while kneeling, squatting, running, slowing down or walking stairs/ramps
- Limping or problems walking
- Knee instability, a feeling that the knee is “giving out”
