Meniscus Tears
Your knee joint is a tough very joint. Not only does it support your weight, but it also helps to make movement possible. But notwithstanding its toughness, the knee joint is not the most flexible, and a little wrong move like rotating your knee too sudden and forcefully can lead lead to a torn meniscus. Your knee joint is made up of three bones; the thigh bone, the shinbone, and the kneecap (patella). C-shaped cartilage (meniscus) acts as a shock absorber and gives your knee stability. This cartilage is found in each of your knees, between the thighbone and shinbone, and provides cushioning for both bones. A torn meniscus occurs when there is an injury to the cartilage resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. Meniscus tears are one of the most common forms of knee injuries and can happen at the same time with an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tear.
Symptoms of Meniscus Tears
At the time of the injury, you might feel a pop or snap in your knee. Most athletes are still able to play with the knee for a couple of days before the pain gets worse, and the knee becomes stiff and swollen.
Often, meniscus tears can be treated without surgery. Your physical therapist will create a treatment plan to relieve the pain, prevent stiffness, and restore full motion to the knee. Like for most sports-related injuries, your therapist will prescribe R.I.C.E. This stands for: