The meniscal tear is a common injury. It can affect athletes who play individual and team sports. It's also common in people who have jobs that require lots of squatting, such as plumbers or coal miners. Your physical therapist can help you manage the injury and, if surgery is required, can help you prepare for the procedure and recover your strength and movement afterward.
What is a Meniscal Tear?
The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped piece of cartilage that cushions your knee. Each of your knees has 2 menisci (plural of meniscus); one on the inner (medial) part of the knee, and the other on the outer (lateral) part. Together they act to absorb shock and stabilize the knee joint.
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A meniscal tear typically is caused by twisting or turning quickly on a bent knee, often with the foot planted on the ground. Although meniscal tears are common in those who play contact sports, anyone at any age can tear a meniscus. When people talk about having torn cartilage in their knee, they usually are talking about a meniscal tear.
Signs and Symptoms
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When you tear a meniscus, you might:
Feel a sharp, intense pain in the knee area
Feel a "pop" or a tearing sensation
Have difficulty walking because of pain or a "catching" sensation
Have difficult straightening the knee
Experience swelling within the first 24 hours of injury
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your physical therapist will:
Conduct a thorough evaluation that includes a detailed review of your injury, your symptoms, and your health history
Perform special tests to measure the range of motion (amount of movement) in your knee and determine which specific movements and positions increase your symptoms
Use a series of tests that apply pressure to the meniscus to determine whether it appears to be damaged
The results of these tests may indicate the need for further diagnostic tests—such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging—or a referral to an orthopedic surgeon for consultation.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
Your doctor may diagnose a torn meniscus, but meniscal injuries can often be managed without surgery. A short course of treatment provided by a physical therapist can help determine whether your knee will recover without surgery. The physical therapist plays an important role by controlling pain and swelling and by restoring full strength and mobility to your knee.
To control pain and swelling, your physical therapist may use ice and compression and will likely instruct you in the use of these treatments at home. Swelling is an important "guide" during your rehabilitation and can indicate when you are doing too much. Let your physical therapist know if you have an increase in swelling so that your program or activity level can be modified.
Your physical therapist may use a treatment called neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to help improve your strength. Your therapist also will design special exercises to maintain your strength during recovery and help restore full movement to the knee. You will be given a home program of exercises that are specific to your condition.
As you recover, your therapist will advise you on ways to maintain your fitness and activity level and will help you decide when you are ready to return to full activity.
For a complimentary consultation please call Northville Physical Rehabilitation at: (248) 349-9339
