Meniscus Tears: What Patients Should Know
Your meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage in your knee that acts as a shock absorber between your thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia). Each knee has two menisci that help cushion the joint, improve stability, and distribute weight evenly across the knee.
A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries. It can occur during sports, exercise, or even everyday activities. This article explains what a meniscus tear is, common symptoms, treatment options, and provides trusted educational resources to help you better understand your injury.
What Is a Meniscus Tear?
The meniscus is made of tough cartilage that helps protect the knee joint. A tear occurs when this cartilage is damaged. Tears may be small or large and can occur in different areas of the meniscus.
Some tears develop suddenly after a twisting injury, while others occur gradually as the cartilage weakens with age.
Common Causes
Meniscus tears commonly occur from:
- Twisting or pivoting while your foot is planted.
- Sports injuries during activities such as football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and tennis.
- Deep squatting or lifting heavy objects.
- Degenerative wear and tear that naturally occurs as we age.
Although athletes commonly experience meniscus tears, they can affect people of all ages.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include:
- Pain along the inside or outside of the knee
- Swelling that develops over several hours
- Stiffness or difficulty bending the knee
- A popping sensation at the time of injury
- Locking or catching of the knee
- A feeling that the knee may give way
Some smaller tears may cause only mild discomfort, while larger tears can significantly limit knee function.
Diagnosis
Dr. Collins will perform a thorough examination of your knee and discuss how your injury occurred. Your evaluation may include specific physical examination tests to identify a meniscus tear.
X-rays are often obtained to rule out fractures or arthritis. Because the meniscus is cartilage, an MRI is usually the best imaging study to confirm the diagnosis and determine the size and location of the tear.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the type of tear, its location, your age, activity level, and overall health.
Non-surgical treatment may include:
- Rest and activity modification
- Ice and anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Bracing when appropriate
If symptoms continue or the tear is unlikely to heal on its own, arthroscopic knee surgery may be recommended. During this minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Collins can often repair the torn meniscus or remove the damaged portion while preserving as much healthy cartilage as possible.
Recovery
Recovery varies depending on the severity of the injury and the type of treatment performed.
Many patients improve with conservative treatment over several weeks. If surgery is required, rehabilitation is an important part of recovery and helps restore knee strength, flexibility, and function.
Dr. Collins will recommend a personalized treatment and rehabilitation plan based on your specific injury and activity goals.
Educational Videos & Resources
Learn more about meniscus tears from these trusted orthopedic resources:
- AAOS OrthoInfo – Meniscus Tears Video
- AAOS OrthoInfo – Meniscus Tears
- AAOS OrthoInfo – Meniscus Repair
These videos and articles explain knee anatomy, common symptoms, treatment options, and what to expect if surgery is recommended.
