i
If you have knee pain from a posterior cruciate ligament injury, Chiropractic can provide relief! This post is about Knee Pain and West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Acute Phase of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
If you are in the acute phase, you may have posterior (back of) knee pain. You will have immediate impairment to that knee. Furthermore, there may even be hemarthrosis (bleeding into the joint inside) causing swelling. Typically, this occurs within the first few hours and then the inflammation will mostly be in the posterior capsule (the fibrous/synovial structure surrounding the joint) of your knee.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Cause of Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
The most common way the PCL is injured is by hyperflexion trauma This is when your knee is bent backward beyond its usual limit. This can occur during a fall on the flexed knee. Also, it can occur during a car accident when your knee hits the surface of the car (e.g. dashboard). Additionally, you may have a sports injury such as in tackle football with a hyperflexed knee.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Knee Anatomy: Femur (thigh bone), Tibia (shin bone), Fibula (thin, outer long bone of the leg), and the Patella (kneecap)
There are three “articulations” (joint or juncture between bones or cartilages) at the knee: the tibiofemoral, patellofemoral, and tibiofibular articulations. However, only the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral articulations participate in knee joint activity. The tibiofibular articulation/joint does not actually contribute to the actions of the knee. Instead, it is part of the ankle joint complex moving the ankle in all the various ranges of motion. However, dysfunctional processes in the proximal tibiofibular articulation/joint can affect other knee functions and can be a source of knee pain.
So the tibiofemoral and tibiofibular are synovial articulations. These are freely movable joints. And the bony surfaces are coated with hyaline cartilage. It is unified by a fibrous articular capsule. However, the third articulation, patellofemoral, is a functional joint (non-synovial joint).
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: More Anatomy of the Knee: About the PCL
First, the knee is supported by the joint capsule, its cartilage “thickenings”, and the collateral-ligamentous system. And the collateral ligaments (band of tissue that connects a bone to another bone) are located on either side of your knee outside your knee joint.
Second, internally the knee is stabilized and the control of rotation is provided by the meniscocruciate system. There are two C-shaped cartilage like structures, each one called a meniscus. The menisci aid in shock absorption and help govern rotational movement at the knee.
Third, the cruciates, capsule, and collateral ligaments connect the femur to the tibia. The cruciates are a pair of ligaments that cross each other in the knee, connecting the tibia and the femur. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is smaller (size of the little finger) than the Posterior Cruciate Ligament. It’s usually more readily injured than the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) (size of the thumb). The cruciates allow tension to develop through most ranges of motion.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: PCL Injury Grade 1-3
PCL Sprain is grade 1– microscopic tears that stretch the ligament.
Partial PCL tear is grade 2– stretched and partially torn.
Complete PCL tear is grade 3- The PCL is a complete tear. At this point the knee is very unstable and cannot bear your body weight. A grade 3 sprain is often accompanied by damage to the other ligaments of the knee. Unfortunately, with a complete tear you may need surgery.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Evaluation, Tests and Management
After examining your knee, your doctor may order imaging such as an x-ray or/and M.R.I. Grade 1 PCL injuries may not require bracing. However, grade II tears (without involvement of the meniscus) may require bracing.
West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: P.C.L. Injury Treatment at Meiri Chiropractic
Firstly, the knee and associated spine and extremity (limb) joints are adjusted.
Secondly, manipulation of muscle contractures with soft tissue techniques is utilized. Some Techniques include gentle PNF/PIR (e.g. post isometric relaxation) and/or myofascial release techniques.
Finally, Therapeutic exercises for rehabilitation/ strengthening are prescribed.
Getting regular chiropractic treatment at a chiropractic center in West Palm Beach can help naturally relieve the pain and dysfunction of the knee. Chiropractic is a holistic and natural way to not only treat existing conditions, but to keep your body in its best working condition.
Contact Meiri Chiropractic today at 561-253-8984 to make an appointment or to find out more about Knee Pain and West Palm Beach Chiropractic Care: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.