Clearly, the meniscus does play an important role in the human knee, but once torn and unable to be repaired, many of the beneficial effects of that structure are lost. Find out when it helps, what to expect, and how long youll need to do it for. For example, after a highvelocity sports injury, you might feel a pop and some pain. Meniscus tear treatment with 4 exercises to avoid surgery. Meniscus tear treatment king brand company home page. The purpose of the esska european society for sports traumatology, knee surgery and arthroscopy european consensus on traumatic meniscus tears was to provide recommendations for the treatment of meniscus tears based on both scientific. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair uw health.
In this procedure, the torn meniscus is sewn back together using small, often dissolvable stitches. A sudden strong force that usually involves a rotation movement of the knee can tear a meniscus. Be sure to rotate your leg outward laterally slightly to gain a better activation of the medial inner side of the. Antiinflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen advil, motrin or naproxen, may help relieve pain and inflammation. Sep 09, 2016 there are 2 main reasons why you may tear a meniscus. Meniscus tears johns hopkins all childrens hospital. More severe tears of the meniscus often require surgery. Moreover, meniscus tears are very common, so try not to get discouraged if you injure yours. An untreated meniscus tear can deteriorate and may come loose within the knee joint.
The treatment chosen will depend on the location of the tear, the athletes sport, ligamentous stability of the knee and any associated injury. The first steps in treatment after the acute injury usually include rest, ice, compression, and elevation rice. Currently, there are three main methods of modern surgical management of meniscus tears. Rehabilitation exercises a meniscus tear is a common knee joint injury. Be sure to rotate your leg outward laterally slightly to gain a better activation of the medial inner side of the quadriceps. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair of root and. But the truth is that there are different types of meniscus tears and some tears wont heal without treatment. Selecting the most appropriate treatment for a given patient involves both. There is evidence suggesting that degenerative tears in older. A torn meniscus is one of the most common causes of knee pain. Meniscal injuries can be the result of a forceful, twisting event in a young.
Some people with meniscus tears will respond to conservative treatment, including rest, medications, and physical therapy. In some cases, cortisone injection can also be helpful to resolve the pain and swelling. Perhaps even more important, even if a meniscus tear doesnt heal, many tears will stop hurting if treated without surgery. If your tear is on the outer onethird of the meniscus, it. Do it for 1520 minutes every 34 hours for 23 days or until the pain and swelling is gone. The aim of phase 3 of a meniscus tear rehabilitation program is to ensure full range of movement in the knee, regain normal strength with the ability to perform a full squat and start to return to running and normal training. The treatment chosen will depend on the location of the tear, the athletes sport, ligamentous stability of the. With proper physical therapy and care, most people heal well and return to their desired sports and activities. The meniscus is the cartilage that acts as a cushion between your shinbone and thighbone, and though nonsurgical therapies may be of some benefit, many require meniscus surgery. Meniscus tear causes, symptoms and natural treatments.
Diagnosis and management of meniscal injury rhode island. Give your knee rest and support by applying ice every 2 hours and wear this knee brace. In many cases, a surgical procedure called arthroscopy is used to repair or remove a torn meniscus. Compress your knee with a brace or knee sleeve to prevent additional swelling. There have been multiple studies that have demonstrated the clinical success of meniscal repair. What are the treatment options for a degenerative meniscus. Your physiotherapist has diagnosed you with a degenerative meniscal tear. Apply ice or a cold pack to your knee for 15 to 20minute sessions, several times a day. Treatment options for meniscal tears fall into three broad categories. If a tear is causing pain and impaired function, removal of that tear is the treatment of choice. Yes most meniscal tears are degenerative and will not require surgery. Yes, there are exceptions, but for purposes of this post, they dont. Torn meniscus surgery meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries, caused by forcefully twisting or rotating your knee while putting pressure on it.
Sports injury medicine department 9250 sw hall blvd. In fact, a meniscal tear is one of the most frequently occurring cartilage injuries. This may be an option if the entire meniscus is torn and has to be removed. This treatment may be the best option for minor tears in the meniscus. An mri may be used to assist in making the diagnosis. If you have knee pain due to a meniscus tear, you may. Torn meniscus surgery advanced regenerative orthopedics.
The meniscus is a special thick layer of cartilage that lines the knee joint providing cushioning and support. Like a lot of knee injuries, a meniscus tear can be painful and debilitating. A torn meniscus, which is the cartilage that lines the knee, can be treated with rice, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The meniscus is a cshaped piece of cartilage in the knee that cushions and acts as a shock absorber between your thigh bone femur and shin bone tibia. Physical therapy for a knee meniscus tear verywell health. Meniscus tear treatment options knee pain explained. The most appropriate treatment for a young athlete with a meniscus tear depends on location, size, and pattern of the tear. That doesnt mean that every patient with a meniscus tear needs surgery. For example, the outer third of the meniscus has a richer blood supply than the interior tissue, and injuries there will heal faster as the blood brings healing nutrients to the injured tissue. Chiropractic management of a medial meniscus tear in a. It is just as important to understand that many meniscus tears do not require surgery. Because the menisci weaken and wear thin over time, older people are more likely to experience a degenerative meniscus tear.
The purpose of the esska european society for sports traumatology, knee surgery and arthroscopy european consensus on traumatic meniscus tears was to provide recommendations for the treatment of meniscus tears based on both scientific evidence and. Not every torn meniscus is the same, and not every meniscus tear requires the same type of treatment. Selecting the most appropriate treatment for a given patient involves both patient factors e. This may be helpful in easing the inflammation that occurs with a torn meniscus.
An example of this is when a footballers foot remains planted in the ground while he then forcefully turns around. Pdf treatment options for meniscal tears fall into three broad categories. Limit activities to include walking if the knee painful. First of all, it is true that meniscus tears generally do not heal by themselves. Meniscal tears that cause continued pain, locking, or instability of the knee are often treated with arthroscopic surgery. The meniscus is a special thick layer of cartilage that lines the. Some meniscal tears can heal without surgical intervention. Symptoms include pain on the inside of the knee which. Acute, traumatic tears in the young patient and atraumatic, degenerative tears in the. Other factors which influence treatment include age, activity level and related injuries. The medial meniscus is semicircular in shape and the lateral meniscus is almost a. They may also prescribe physical therapy and antiinflammatory medication to help with the pain and swelling.
The severity and location of the tear will be vital factors in determining a treatment regimen. Meniscus tear treatment aims to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with a knee cartilage tear as well as restore strength, flexibility and function. Often times these tears can be diagnosed by taking a thorough history and completing a physical examination. Some of these factors include the age of the patient, results of nonsurgical treatment, and if there is another damage than just a torn meniscus. Put this antiinflammatory cream on your knee to reduce swelling and inflammation and thus your pain. If an athlete suffers a meniscal root tear, the three options for treatment. Meniscus rehab exercises the physical therapy advisor. Physical therapy pt and exercises for a meniscus tear rehab. Racgp meniscal tear presentation, diagnosis and management. Nov 15, 2019 the meniscus is a cshaped piece of tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. A bucket handle tear is a type of meniscus tear that affects your knee. Brett sears, pt, mdt, is a physical therapist with over 15 years of experience in orthopedic and hospitalbased therapy. Acute traumatic injuries of normal meniscal substance usually produce longitudinal or transverse tears, although the morphology of tears can be quite complex5.
It is caused by direct impact in contact sports or twisting. It can be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it. Athletes, particularly those who play contact sports, are at risk for meniscus tears. Meniscus tears do not heal, and over a period of time your knee joint will grind out the tear. There are 2 main reasons why you may tear a meniscus. Fogoros, md, is a retired professor of medicine and boardcertified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. Treatment for meniscal tears depends on the size and location of the tear. Torn meniscus meniscus tear treatment options duke health. Any activity that causes you to forcefully twist or rotate your knee, especially when. Still, many athletes keep playing after a meniscus tear if no other damage has been done to the knee. However, it may also occur in older athletes through gradual degeneration. How well the knee will heal and whether surgery will be needed depends in large part on the type of tear see figure in appendix and how bad the tear is.
May be recommended in young patients depending on the type of meniscus tear. Work with your doctor to plan a rehabilitation rehab program that helps you regain as much. The medical history of the patient, the individuals. The meniscus can tear anterior to posterior, radially, or can have a bucket handle appearance. It is important to know the difference between these two types of injuries, because the way we treat them is different. As the meniscus blends with the synovial lining of the joint capsule, a meniscal tear injury will apply a mechanical traction on the peripheral aspect, potentially producing inflammation of the synovial lining or a mechanical locking. The success of meniscus repair depends on tear pattern recognition and location for the capacity to heal. For most tears, some simple exercises can help maintain muscle strength in the front of the thigh quadriceps, back of the thigh hamstr.
Nov 25, 2019 not every torn meniscus is the same, and not every meniscus tear requires the same type of treatment. In the case of meniscus tears, some people think the injury will heal over time on its own. When people talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus. With proper physical therapy and care, most people heal. Depending on the particular tear, a patients age and overall health, and. This booklet gives information on the different types of meniscus problems, the evidencebased management options, and how physiotherapy can help. A variety of factors are used to determine the ideal treatment of a meniscus tear. Meniscus tears symptoms and treatment orthoinfo aaos. Untreated meniscus tears can also increase in tear size and extend the damaged area of the meniscus. Apr 25, 2019 yes, some meniscus tears can heal on their own. Symptoms of an acute meniscus tear include swelling, pain along the joint line, catching, locking and a specific injury. Physical therapy pt can be useful for a torn meniscus whether or not you have surgery.
The symptoms of a meniscus tear depend on the severity of the injury and your age. Jul 18, 2014 treatment options for meniscal tears fall into three broad categories. It will reduce the pressure on your knee and meniscus for immediate relief and prevents sudden twitches of your knee. According to the journal arthroscopy techniques, an estimated 10 percent of all meniscal tears are bucket handle tears. Rimington t, mallik k, evans d, mroczek k, reider b. Aug 09, 2019 a torn meniscus is a tear of one of the semicircular cartilage discs in the knee joint. You have both an inner medial and outer lateral meniscus that help distribute the forces in the knee when you are weightbearing.
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