Meniscal injuries TO THE KNEE

Meniscus is a crescent shaped fibrocartilaginous structure in the knee joint between the end of two bones, femur and tibia. It is a commonly injured structure in the knee. Menisci provides stability and equal weight bearing and it also acts as a shock absorber. There is blood supply only to the outer aspect of the menisci. The injury is mainly to menisci on the inner aspect of the joint, known as medial meniscus.

The meniscal tear can be due to trauma as seen in younger people or can be a degenerative tear. In younger patients the menisci are tough and rubbery, but can become torn through forceful twisting injuries. Traumatic tears are commonly due to sports activity like football, soccer, skiing or tennis. At these activities, the knee is twisted under stress or in full weight bearing.  Menisci becomes weak and less elastic with age and can become torn with a fairly minor injury. That can even be with a simple squat or even rising from a chair or getting out of a car.

The common risk factors are over weight, intense training, decreased muscle strength or incorrect position of your legs.

Meniscus Injury Symptoms

Pain along the line of the joint or a vague pain felt all over the knee. Such pain can be a combination of ache and sharper pain. Pain is worst with twisting, squatting or any activities when pinching of menisci occurs. Symptoms may settle with rest. The joint may also become swollen and stiff. If the torn part of the meniscus is large it can cause locking. The cause of it is usually a large joint-caught fragment and which starts acting like a wedge preventing the knee from fully straightening. Difficulty in performing activities that loads the knee like going downstairs.

Knee Meniscal Treatment

The preference for meniscal injury is to go with conservative management in most of the cases with a minor traumatic tear and in degenerative tears of meniscus. Your Physiotherapist can help you in the recovery process to reduce the pain and discomfort in the knee and to gain function.

Initial treatment focuses on reducing pain and swelling in the knee with cryotherapy and electrical modalities and acupuncture. Manual therapy and exercises focuses on regaining good knee control, restoring range of movement and muscle function. Your physiotherapist will be able to advice you on graded exercise to strengthen the knee muscles and to promote recovery. Orthotic assessment is done if there is a need to correct the deviations in your feet to reduce stress in your knees. Proprioception (joint position sense) exercises and core stability exercises are also helpful to improve function.

In case of a large torn meniscus causing locking or in case of severe tear, the recommendation will be towards a surgical correction. Knee arthroscopy is most commonly performed. The surgeon inserts miniature camera and surgical instruments through small incisions to repair the tear or to remove the torn part. Your Physiotherapist can help you before the surgery to restore and improve the range of movement and muscle strength which helps you with a faster post operative recovery. Your physiotherapist uses post-operative treatment and mobility progressions following the surgical precautions and protocols.

Immediate Help through Physiotherapy for knee meniscus Injury:

Are you looking for physio help after knee injuries from a meniscus tear? Got questions about knee braces for sports injuries? Have you been experiencing knee pain after an injury?

Interested in knowing how to warm up your knees before squats? Looking for ACL knee support? Or are you searching for Knee Brace Toronto or custom Knee Brace Toronto? Looking for knee brace price? Or do you simply have any questions such as if OHIP covers knee injury treatment?

At Curezone Physiotherapy, our expert knee therapists aim to improve your conditions through targeted stretches and customized braces. If you are looking for the best knee injury clinic Mississauga or Oakville or the best physio NEAR ME to learn the exercises to eliminate knee pain, look no further! Our Knee Pain clinic aims to be YOUR best physiotherapy to get you therapy to fully-customized knee brace for injury.

We welcome you to call us at our walk-in knee health clinic to book an appointment with one of our expert physiotherapists to let us immediately start assisting you in your road to recovery.

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