What can the athlete do after sustaining a PCL injury?
· Apply RICE as soon after the injury as possible. · See a sports injury professional immediately. What can a professional do? · A sports injury professional will firstly aim to correctly diagnose the injury. This may be achieved by performing specific tests such as the ‘posterior drawer test’ or ‘reverse Lachman’s’. · Referrals for an MRI scan and/or X-ray to assess the extent of the damage. · Operate. Once the injury has been correctly diagnosed, 2 modes of treatment may be recommended: 1. Conservative Treatment This is indicated in most PCL injuries and may consist of: · Ice and heat treatment. · Electrotherapy e.g. TENS · Manual therapy treatments · Advise on a specific rehabilitative exercise program, which may include: quadriceps and hamstring strengthening, gait reeducation and balance-training using wobble boards. · A knee brace can be used in the early to mid stages. 2. Surgical Treatment A lesser proportion of PCL injuries require surgical intervention. However in more seriou
