The knee joint has two wedge-shaped menisci, made of cartilage, between the femur and the tibia. One is a lateral meniscus (on the outer side of the knee) and the other is a medial meniscus (on the inner side of the knee). These menisci protect the thinner articular cartilage on the ends of the tibia and femur by acting as “shock absorbers” during compressive movements.
Meniscus tears are common knee injuries, especially among athletes of contact sports, and the menisci can tear in various patterns.
Symptoms of Meniscus Tears
- Feeling a “pop” when the injury occurs
- Pain (commonly at the knee joint line)
- Stiffness and swelling (gradually increasing over 2-3 days)
- Catching or locking in the knee during movement
- Feeling the knee “giving way”
- Restricted range of motion in the knee joint
Causes of Meniscus Tears
- Frequently in sports due to motions where the foot is planted, the knee bends, and the body twists
- Direct impact to the outside or inside of the knee
- Degenerative tears with age due to weakening and thinning of cartilage over time
Risk Factors for Meniscus Tears
- Discoid menisci (congenital)
- Contact sports
- Sports that involve making quick, frequent direction changes
Complications with Meniscus Tears
- Meniscus tears, especially those from sports incidents, frequently occur alongside the injury of other soft tissue in the knee (for example, tears of the ACL, capsule, or MCL).
- If untreated, a torn piece of meniscus may drift into the joint and cause slipping, popping, or locking in the knee joint.
Things to do at home for meniscus tears
- RICE protocol: Rest, Ice (20minutes at a time, not directly on skin), Compression, Elevation (above heart level)
Meniscus Tear Treatment
In order to relieve pain from meniscus tears, we address the problem holistically and naturally, without medication.
We use the following approaches to relieve meniscal tear symptoms:
- ASTR® Tools: Our doctors use a variety of ASTR® tools to release scar tissue and myofascial restriction, which can decrease mobility and flexibility.
- Special exercise program to decrease pain, strengthen the muscles, stabilize and help the patient to return to normal function and activities.
- Special instructions on how to speed up the recovery time.
- Cold Laser Therapy: Tissue inflammation is common with meniscus tears. Cold laser is used in order to decrease inflammation that causes pressure on the affected area.