What are Meniscal Tears?
It refers to injury to the knee joint meniscus, a structure that acts as a shock absorber for the joint. There are two types of meniscal tears:
- Lateral meniscal tears
- Medial meniscal tears
Can physiotherapy help people with menisci tears?
Yes. Physiotherapy is effective in the treatment of lateral meniscal tears because of its blood supply, however, a medial meniscal tear would require surgery as it has no blood supply. After surgery, your specialist will refer you to physiotherapy to help restore you back to functional activities.
What causes meniscal tears?
Sports-related trauma in which an athlete performs a twisting motion on the slightly bent knee
Age-related degeneration of the knee meniscus
How do I know I have a menisci tear?
You will experience the following symptoms:
Pain
Joint swelling
Clicking, popping and locking of the knee
Pain when squatting
Reduced joint movement
A sensation of your knee giving way
Not sure about your conditions?