The posterior cruciate ligament, also known as the PCL, keeps the knee's tibia from sliding backwards under the femur. It works in conjunction with the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL.
The PCL is usually injured by hyperextension (overextending the knee), which can happen when landing awkwardly after jumping. The PCL can also become injured from a direct blow to the flexed knee, such as smashing the knee in a car accident (called dashboard knee).
Virtua's Sports Medicine Program offers comprehensive services for injury prevention, education, evaluation and advanced treatment of movement-related pain or injuries.
Virtua's Sports Medicine Program specializes in injuries to the knee, elbow, shoulder, hand and ankle. A variety of treatments are offered, including minimally-invasive techniques.
The program's three co-medical directors are board-certified orthopedic surgeons, fellowship-trained in sports medicine and specialize in the treatment and surgical management of sports medicine injuries. In addition, they treat activity-based pains and strains that keep patients from normal activities.