Torn Meniscus! Now What?
If you have pain in your knee associated with buckling, clicking or popping; especially in the medial aspect (inner part), it’s possible that you have a torn meniscus. Other movements that might hurt involve twisting and walking up and down stairs.
However, there isn’t necessarily a need to worry. Though, in some cases, a meniscal repair or menisectomy are the best options, patients with meniscal tears may do just as well without surgery as with! If you have knee pain, see a physical therapist! With a combination of manual therapy, restorative exercise to strengthen and regain mobility and activity modification, you can have a meniscal tear AND avoid the knife!
Is this you? If so, these two exercises could be part of your program:
Glute Bridge With Hip March: While lying on your back, raise your hips toward the ceiling. Then, lift one knee toward and away from your face.
Knee Flexion Mobilization With Movement: While bent on the uninvolved knee, shift your weight forward while slightly twisting your leg inward.
Questions about meniscal tears, you can contact me at any time!
References:
https://www.hss.edu/condition-list_torn-meniscus.asp#what
Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus physical therapy for traumatic meniscal tears in a young study population: a randomised controlled trial. van der Graaff SJA, et al. Br J Sports Med 2022;56:870–876. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2021-105059