Before we get into information about meniscus tears, we must first learn about what a meniscus is, as well as its purpose inside of the knee joint. The meniscus consists of two rubber-like pieces of cartilage that provides cushioning between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia).
What exactly causes Meniscus Tears?
Meniscus tears can be a result of many different causes, ranging from:
- Twisting awkwardly when getting out of a chair
- Athletic injury that involves being tackled by another player
When one normally injures their meniscus, they have experienced an excessive amount of pressure or twisting at the knee joint that resulted in one of the many classifications of a tear.
- Older Patients:
- When patients are a bit older, tend to experience knee joint pain, which can be classified as simple degenerative changes to the meniscal cartilage that come with their seasoned years.
- Middle Aged Patients:
- Those who are more in their middle aged years can also experience degenerative changes, especially if they have or are still participating in activities that may consist of medium-heavy impact at the knee joint.
- Younger Patients:
- When our younger patients come in with meniscus pain it can likely be attributed to some act of quick rotation, generally while playing sports.
Sign and Symptoms:
- Sometimes hearing a “pop”
- Stiffness and swelling, especially around day 2 or 3.
- Catching or ”locking” of the knee
- The sensation that the knee is “giving way” when bearing weight.
- Decreased range of motion, possible unable to fully straighten leg.
Diagnosis:
When someone is suspected of suffering a meniscus tear, there a few common tests done to confirm the therapists suspicions simply based off of the patient’s history and detailed action of when they felt they experienced the injury.
- Palpating directly along the joint line to reproduce the pain
- Manual testing that involves compressing the cartilage
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the injuries severity, size and where it’s actually located.
- The R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevate) method and non-steroidal inflammatory medications can be used initially to decrease the pain and swelling.
- Physical therapy focuses on decreasing the swelling commonly associated with meniscus tears, as well as works to steadily increase the motion that was compromised. Once those two things have been addressed, therapy then converts to overall knee/hip strengthening to increase strength and stabilize the joint!
- Surgery is an option for meniscal tears, but it’s often the VERY LAST choice, simply because of the increased risk of osteoarthritis post-surgery. Knee arthroscopies can be done to remove the torn pieces, or completely suture the tears.
What happens if it isn’t treated NOW?
IF NOT treated, meniscus tears can lead to:
- Loss of motion
- Difficulty/unsafe driving
- Inability to bear weight on the affected side
- Bigger meniscus tears
- Further knee injury
- And so much more…
When one skips out on physical therapy because they aren’t aware of its benefits, they often force themselves to experience more pain that will eventually lead them to surgery. So why ignore that problem? Why struggle with the task of stairs in your home? Why not get out and enjoy a walk when the weather is GREAT? WHY LET THAT TORN MENISCUS KEEP YOU FROM DOING THE THINGS YOU LOVE? Give us a call and get scheduled for an evaluation with our physical therapists so they can prescribe you an individualized program that will help you get back to your goals as safely and as quickly as possible!
By Cierra Washington, ATC
