Posterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

The posterior cruciate ligament goes from the front of the femur to the back of the tibial plateau, keeping the shin from sliding backwards. Injury often results in hyperextending the knee. BENEFICIAL POSES: Heel Sliding (see video), Janu Sirsasana, Supta Padangusthasana, Ardha Navasana, (later) Utkatasana. EXPLANATION: This uncommon injury occurs when the tibia is forced backwards, and therefore may be caused by a low tackle from the front or a fall. Treatment of most injuries is conservative: iNCREASING range of motion at the hip early, to take strain off of the knee, and strengthening later. Heel sliding maintains range of motion and coordinates ankle and hip motion with that of the knee. Strong hamstrings and quadriceps protect the healing ligament from further injury. These poses do exactly that, and should begin soon after the injury to avoid restricted range of motion later. Reference: Pierce CM1, O’Brien L, Griffin LW, Laprade RF. Posterior cruciate ligament tears: functional and postoperative rehabilitation.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013 May;21(5):1071-84. doi: 10.1007/s00167-012-1970-1. Epub 2012 Apr 8.