Meniscus Tear: Features And Symptoms
Usually an abrupt twisting motion triggers this knee injury. Learn more about causes, risks and treatment options today.
The meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries. Any activity that involves jumping or turning abruptly while putting pressure on your knees, especially with your whole body weight, can cause a tear in the meniscus.
Each knee has two menisci, the inner and the outer. It is C-shaped cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the shin and thigh bone . This distributes the pressure this joint has to withstand. They also stabilize the knee and make movement easier.
A meniscus tear can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and knee blockage. There may also be difficulty in fully extending the knee.
Causes and types of a meniscal tear
The meniscus tear is one of the most common injuries to the knee joint and can occur for a number of reasons:
- Traumatic (from direct or indirect impact)
- Degenerative (due to progressive wear and tear over the years)
- Mechanical (due to poor posture and a resulting malfunction)
In many cases, a meniscus tear occurs in young people when they play sports. This is usually done by an abrupt twisting motion while the leg is on the floor, or by excessive flexing motion.
Not every meniscal tear is created equal. That is why this injury is divided into different types, depending on whether the crack is complete or not and where exactly it occurs.
Symptoms of a tear in the meniscus
The different causes and types of damage mean that the symptoms are very variable. Even two people who appear to have the same injury can have different symptoms. The most common symptoms include the following:
- Clicking sound and pain in the area of the meniscus at the time of the injury
- Inflammation of the knee
- Blockage of the joint
- Pain when bending and stretching, especially in the end of the movement
- Difficulty moving after sitting for a long time
The pain can usually not be pinpointed exactly in one zone, although it can be felt more intensely on the inside or outside of the knee.
The pain changes depending on which meniscus is injured. You can also feel stitches or a lack of stability in the knee. Be sure to see your doctor if your knee hurts, if you notice any swelling, or if you cannot move your knee normally.
Meniscal tear: treatment
There are two treatment options, surgical and conservative. In both cases, physiotherapy is an essential part because rehabilitation is also necessary after the operation. If you have a meniscus tear, follow these recommendations:
- Rest for 24-48 hours.
- Apply cold to soothe inflammation in the joint and reduce pain.
- Use a compression bandage
- Elevate your leg to facilitate synovial fluid drainage.
Meniscal tear: surgical treatment
Physiotherapy is necessary after the operation to regain lost mobility, restore muscle tone and restore stability to the joint.
Conservative treatment
If you choose conservative treatment, you will need to rest, put on ice, and take anti-inflammatory medication. If you follow these rules, it can sometimes be enough to relieve the pain of the torn meniscus and give the injury time to heal on its own.
Even if conservative treatment may be sufficient in some cases, the meniscus tear often needs to be repaired surgically.
The physiotherapeutic treatment, depending on the patient and whether surgical treatment took place, essentially consists of the following components:
- Manual massage for pain relief
- Drainage to drain the synovial fluid
- Joint techniques to increase mobility
- Exercises to increase muscle strength
Meniscal tear: risk factors
In activities where you jump on the knee or turn violent and abrupt, you are at risk of suffering a meniscus tear.
The risk is particularly high for athletes who play soccer, tennis, basketball, or other sports that place great stress on the knees. The risk of a meniscus tear also increases with age due to wear and tear on the knees.
