The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that provides a cushion between your femur and tibia. They stabilize the knee joint and act as “shock absorbers”.
Causes of a meniscus tear:
The meniscus can be torn during activities that cause direct contact or pressure from a forced twist or rotation.
- Football
- Basketball
- Tennis
Symptoms of a meniscus tear:
- When a meniscus tear occurs, you may hear a popping sound around your knee joint.
- Pain, especially when the area is touched
- Swelling around the knee joint
- Difficulty moving your knee joint and feels that your knee is giving away > Inability to move the knee in a full range of motion
- Test for meniscal tear: Mc Murray Test.
Rehabilitation treatment:
- PRICE (Prevention, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation).
- Strengthening of Quadriceps and VMO’S and Thera bands exercise for knee joint.
- Brace to support the knee joint,
- Use crutches to avoid any weight bearing on the joint
- Aerobic exercise (Hydrotherapy) and pain management
