Meniscal injuries
What is it?
Your medial and lateral menisci are crescent-shaped discs of shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee joint. They are found on the outside edges of the knee, between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). The medial meniscus lies on the inside and the lateral is on the outside of the joint.
Tears of the menisci are a very common injury. If you tear your medial meniscus, your medial collateral ligament, found on the inside of your knee, can also be damaged. The lateral meniscus is more likely to be damaged on its own.
Symptoms
If you tear a meniscus, you're likely to have pain along either the inside or outside of your knee joint, depending on which meniscus is damaged. You may feel as though your knee is clicking, catching or locking. It's also possible that your knee will feel unstable and may even give way. You may have some swelling.
Causes
Tears of the menisci are usually caused by twisting while your foot is planted on the ground. In older people, the menisci can become worn down and tears can result from very minor injuries.
Treatment
You should seek treatment from a sports medicine professional, such as a sports medicine doctor or a physiotherapist. Your treatment will depend on the severity of your injury. Although some small tears may heal on their own, most will need treatment..
When you first injure your knee, it's important to rest it. Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may help to reduce pain and swelling. Always read the patient info rmation leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
A physiotherapist may be able to advise you on exercises to help the injury to heal and strengthen the muscles that support the knee. He or she will also advise you on non-weight bearing exercise, such as swimming, for approximately six weeks after your injury.
If your injury is more severe, you may need to have surgery to repair the tear, followed by physiotherapy for rehabilitation.
Do
- Apply a cold compress, such as ice or a bag of frozen peas, wrapped in a towel, until the swelling goes down. Don't apply ice directly to your skin as it can damage your skin.
Don't
- Delay in seeing a doctor to get a diagnosis.
Peer reviewed by David Toy, MCSP, Bupa Sports Medicine physiotherapist
Publication date: June 2009
