Key Takeaways

  • The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that provides a cushion between your femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone). There are two menisci in each knee joint.
  • Meniscus tears can be acute or degenerative. Acute tears often occur due to activities that put pressure on or rotate the knee joint, whereas degenerative tears typically result from age-related wear and tear of joint tissues.
  • Depending on the severity of your injury, treatment options can vary from at-home remedies to outpatient surgery.

Acute knee meniscus tears are most common in individuals who participate in sports and active military personnel. However, any improper knee movement can cause a tear, albeit it is uncommon in day-to-day settings.

You can help prevent this injury by doing exercises that’ll strengthen your leg muscles and using proper techniques during contact activities or sports.

This article details the causes, symptoms, and treatments of knee meniscus tears.

The meniscus can tear during activities that cause direct contact or pressure from a forced twist or rotation. A sudden pivot or turn, deep squatting, or heavy lifting can lead to injury.

Sports that require sudden turns and stops may increase your risk of acute meniscus tears. Some of these sports include:

  • football
  • basketball
  • soccer
  • tennis

Age and meniscus tear risk

The meniscus weakens with age, increasing the risk of tears. Movements like squatting or stepping can lead to injury in someone with weak menisci.

If a person’s menisci break down enough, they may tear without direct impact. This is more common in people with degenerative joint diseases.

For example, if you have osteoarthritis, you’re at higher risk of injuring your knee or tearing your meniscus. Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder characterized by joint pain and stiffness that occurs due to aging and wear and tear.

This age-related degeneration means the cartilage in the knee becomes weaker and thinner. As a result, it’s more prone to tears without direct impact.

When a meniscus tear occurs, you may hear a popping sound around your knee joint. Afterward, you may experience:

  • pain, especially when the area is touched
  • swelling
  • difficulty moving your knee or inability to move it in a full range of motion
  • the feeling of your knee locking or catching
  • the feeling that your knee is giving way or is unable to support you

You may also experience a slipping or popping sensation, which is usually an indication that a piece of cartilage has become loose and is blocking the knee joint.

Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms and they persist for more than a few days or occur after you have injured your knee. Call your doctor immediately if your knee locks and you’re unable to bend your knee after straightening it.

After you discuss your symptoms with your doctor, they’ll examine your knee and test your range of motion. They’ll look closely at the spot where the meniscus is along your joint.

Your doctor may also perform a McMurray test to look for a meniscal tear. This test involves bending your knee and then straightening and rotating it.

You may experience a slight pop or feel pain in the area during this test. This can indicate a tear of the meniscus.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests may be ordered to confirm a tear of the meniscus. These include:

  • X-ray: A knee X-ray cannot show a meniscus tear. However, it can be helpful to determine if there are any other causes of your knee pain, like osteoarthritis.
  • MRI: An MRI uses a magnetic field to take multiple images of your knee. An MRI will be able to take pictures of cartilage and ligaments to determine if there’s a meniscus tear.
  • Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses sound waves to take images inside the body. This will determine if any tears are present or if loose cartilage may be getting caught in your knee.

Initially, you should treat the knee injury with conservative techniques that include rest, ice, compression, and elevation, or the RICE method:

  • Rest your knee. Use crutches to avoid any weight bearing on the joint. Avoid any activities that worsen your knee pain.
  • Ice your knee every three to four hours for 30 minutes.
  • Compress or wrap the knee in an elastic bandage to reduce inflammation.
  • Elevate your knee to reduce swelling.

You can also take medication such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and swelling around your knee.

You shouldn’t put your full weight on your injured knee if it’s painful. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles surrounding your knee.

Physical therapy can help reduce pain and increase your knee mobility and stability. Your physical therapist may also use massage techniques to reduce swelling and stiffness.

Surgery

Doctors may recommend arthroscopic surgery in severe cases, or if your knee isn’t responding to the treatments above.

The surgeon will make a small incision in your knee. Your surgeon will insert tools and a camera through the incision to repair or trim away the damaged meniscus. The entire procedure typically lasts about an hour.

You can usually go home the same day after this procedure. Full recovery will take time. However, you can begin participating in physical therapy exercises within days after surgery.

If your procedure involves a meniscal repair, the recovery and rehabilitation time is about six weeks. You’ll wear a knee brace or crutches during this time.

Preparing for surgery

Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for this surgery. Some example instructions may include:

  • completing presurgery requirements, such as blood tests, X-rays, MRI, electrocardiogram (EKG), and other medical clearances, including an anesthesia clearance
  • filling your prescription for pain medication before your procedure
  • refraining from eating or drinking anything the night before your procedure
  • acquiring and using crutches

Notify your doctor if you experience any conditions that could keep you from having your surgery. These include:

Risks

Surgery involves risks, and you should talk with a healthcare professional to determine if you’re a good candidate for this procedure.

The recovery period will include regular visits to the doctor as well as physical therapy to strengthen the muscles supporting your knee.

You can prevent meniscus tears by regularly performing exercises that strengthen your leg muscles. This will help stabilize your knee joint, protecting it from injury.

You can also use protective gear during sports or a brace to support your knee during activities that may increase your risk of injury.

Always use proper form when exercising or engaging in activities that may put pressure on your knee joint. It’s a good idea to:

  • warm up and stretch before exercising
  • use proper gear, such as athletic shoes designed specifically for your activity
  • lace up your footwear properly
  • learn the proper techniques for the activities you engage in

With proper diagnosis and adherence to treatment, your knee can have the mobility and function it had before the injury. If a meniscus tear isn’t surgically treated, the potential for healing depends on the location of the tear.

Cartilage doesn’t have a significant blood supply, which can affect its ability to heal. However, there are some areas of the meniscus, such as the outer portions, which have more blood vessels and are more likely to heal.

A knee meniscus tear is a common injury to the cartilage of the knee. It typically occurs due to sharp twisting movements.

Knee meniscus tears most commonly occur in sports and other strenuous activities.

Minor tears do not typically require surgery and can be treated with conservative management efforts. However, in cases of severe tears, surgery may be necessary.