What is a Meniscus Tear?
A meniscus tear is an injury to the cartilage that cushions the knee joint, often caused by a sudden twisting or turning movement. The meniscus acts as a shock absorber for your knee, and when it tears, it can result in pain and instability. Meniscus tears vary in severity, from minor fraying to a full tear, and may require anything from rest and physical therapy to surgical intervention like a meniscus repair.
Recovery Roadmap: Knee Pain
If you are starting your recovery journey, we’d love to be your partner. In the meantime, this essential guide can get you on the road to recovery today!
- Understanding Your Treatment Options
- Recovery times & Milestones
- Essential Exercises for Prehab
- Ensuring Long-term health
Recovery Roadmap: Knee Pain
If you are starting your recovery journey, we’d love to be your partner. In the meantime, this essential guide can get you on the road to recovery today!
What causes a Meniscus Tear?
Meniscus tears typically occur during activities that involve sudden pivoting or twisting, especially in sports like soccer, basketball, or tennis. The injury can also occur from deep squatting or heavy lifting, which puts additional pressure on the knee joint. In older adults, a meniscus tear may be the result of degenerative changes in the knee, where the cartilage weakens and becomes more prone to injury from simple movements.
What are the symptoms of a Meniscus Tear?
The most common symptoms of a meniscus tear include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee. Many individuals report a popping sensation at the time of injury, followed by difficulty moving or fully extending the knee. You might also experience a feeling of the knee giving way or locking up during movement. Swelling may worsen over the next 24-48 hours, making walking and weight-bearing difficult.
What is the best treatment for Meniscus Tear?
Following a meniscus tear, it is essential to connect with a physical therapist to develop a personalized course of treatment.
Mild meniscus tears can often be treated with a focused program of physical therapy that strengthens the muscles around the knee and stabilizes the joint.
Severe meniscus tears may require surgery. In this event, prehab work with a physical therapist has a big impact on the success of surgical outcomes, and post-surgery rehab is essential to full recovery.
If you can’t come in for an evaluation or you want to get started immediately, we've created an injury recovery guide designed for athletes and active adults to help you make good decisions around your care.
Why Us
We Are expert practitioners
Part art, part science - our work combines cutting edge science with hard-won insights to deliver an experience that goes far beyond traditional physical therapy.
We are dedicated partners
For athletes and active adults, physical therapy isn’t just about relieving pain. It’s about getting back on the path to achieving your goals.
We are a boutique Studio
With a boutique, personalized experience - you’ll feel the care and intentionality of our team from our first conversation to our final session.
