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What is a meniscus tear?

A meniscus tear is an injury to the rubbery cartilage called a meniscus, which is a very important soft tissue found in numerous joints of the body, most commonly associated with the knee. Meniscal tears are either due to an excessive force applied to a ‘normal’ meniscus or a normal force acting on a degenerative meniscus.

Below is a summary explaining ‘what is a meniscus?’, ‘what are the types of meniscus tear?’, and ‘what are the symptoms of a meniscus tear?’. You can also find out more about the best treatment for meniscus tears in our next blog here.


What is a Meniscus?

Meniscus tear

The menisci (pleural of meniscus) in the knee are a pair of rubbery rings positioned on the top of your tibia (shin bone), between the femur (thigh bone) within the knee joint. They are made up of a fibrocartilage much like the discs between your spine. One is a ‘C’ shape, and the other almost an ‘O’ shape ring of cartilage which are vital to the stability and shock absorption in your knee.

There are two main ways in which you can sustain a meniscus tear – either traumatically such as a sports injury or as a result of ‘wear and tear’.

Types of meniscus injury

Traumatic Meniscus Tear

Meniscus tear

A traumatic meniscus tear is less common and usually the result of an accident or sports injury. Typically this involves a sudden twist of the knee when your foot is planted on the ground, for example when turning quickly playing football, landing awkwardly from a height or when being hit suddenly from the side from a tackle.

Degenerative Meniscus Tear

A degenerative meniscal tear is the result of a usually lengthy period of ‘wear and tear’. These can present acutely with pain during load bearing activities but are usually accompanied with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Often many people don’t know they have a degenerative meniscal tear but a sudden twist or repetitive activity such as gardening can exacerbate those ‘wrinkles’ in the cartilage.


What are the main symptoms of a meniscus tear?

Commonly traumatic or degenerative meniscus tears will present with the some of the following symptoms:

  • Sharp and/or aching pain along the line of the knee joint
  • Pain when weight-bearing
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness/tightness with movement
  • Difficulty fully straightening or bending the knee
  • The sensation of ‘giving way’
  • Locking in position

How long does a meniscus tear take to heal?

A meniscus tear can commonly take months to recover. Unfortunately, the meniscus has a very poor blood supply and therefore does not readily heal itself. However, timely examination of traumatic and degenerative meniscus tears is essential to establishing the extent of any tearing and the best treatment option.

The great news is that physiotherapy can help. Here at the physios we successfully treat lots of traumatic and degenerative knee conditions with a combination of manual hands-on treatment, injection therapy and strength & conditioning.

Find out more on the best treatment for meniscus tears here.


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