Meniscus Tears
The meniscus is a C shaped piece of cartilage that cushions your thigh thigh (femur) from your shin (tibia). Each knee has two pieces that make up the meniscus that allows for stability and to absorb compressive forces. A tear usually occurs with twisting and turning motions. They can occur as a result of many different actions including sports, falls, taking a wrong step.
What are signs and symptoms of a meniscal tear?
- Pain is usually sharp and intense, most frequently on the inside of the knee
- Feeling a pop during the incident
- Having difficulty walking or performing stairs because of pain or catching
- Having difficulty straightening the knee
- Swelling within the first 24 hours of mechanism of injury
How can a physical therapist or a chiropractor help?
A physical therapist can help you determine if your tear will benefit from conservative care from physical therapy and/or chiropractor or if you will benefit from surgery. The team can help manage pain and swelling while focusing on strengthening and mobility. The physical therapist can prescibe an individualized plan in order to address strengthening and mobility without increasing pain, swelling, and irritation. The team can work with you and focus on manual technique to normalize irritated muscles and decrease pain and swelling.