How can I lower my risk of a PCL injury?

On the road

A dashboard injury happens when the body slides forward and the bent knee strikes the dashboard. A correctly worn seatbelt, a seat not pushed too far forward and a headrest at the right height reduce how far you travel in a collision. Front passengers should avoid resting feet on the dashboard. Motorcyclists benefit from knee armour, which also helps on quad bikes.

In sport and activity

• Strengthen the quadriceps, which naturally resist the shin sliding backwards
• Wear knee pads in goalkeeping, volleyball, futsal, handball and martial arts where you may land on your knees
• Practise falling technique: roll onto the side of the body rather than landing on the front of a bent knee
• On artificial turf and hard indoor courts, be especially careful with diving and sliding
• In desert sports and dune bashing, wear protective gear, keep speed controlled and secure passengers properly

At work and home

Falls from ladders, scaffolding or onto hard floors cause some PCL injuries. Using safe access equipment, keeping floors dry and wearing knee protection for floor-level work all help, particularly in manual and site jobs in Qatar.

After a previous PCL injury

If you have had a PCL tear, a long-term quadriceps strengthening programme is the cornerstone of protecting the knee. At Aman Hospital in Doha, Dr. Gelber can review your knee, check stability and advise on bracing for higher-risk activities.