

The problem is that surgical removal of the meniscus can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life. In extreme cases, the entire meniscus can be removed. More severe meniscus tears may require surgery to remove the damaged section. Surgical Treatmentĭepending on the location and severity, a meniscus tear may require surgery to repair. Surgery may be necessary in some cases, but there are lots of non-surgical treatment options too. Your treatment strategy will depend on the nature of your meniscus tear and how you injured it. They can also advise you on a treatment plan and recommend knee bracing if necessary. Consult your doctor for a definitive diagnosis of your knee condition. It’s vital to know if there may be additional issues with your knee to take appropriate action. Degenerative meniscus tears are correlated with other knee problems such as osteoarthritis. The same movements and forces that cause acute meniscus tears can also damage other structures in the knee. Meniscus tears usually cause pain and swelling in the knee joint and a loss of mobility. There are a few things you should be aware of that may help you on your search for the best knee brace for meniscus tears. What You Need to Know to Find the Best Knee Brace for Meniscus Tears If you need a quick refresher on the anatomy of meniscus tears, click here. This article compares various bracing options to help you choose the best knee brace for meniscus tears. A knee brace can be an important part of an effective treatment plan.

Without proper treatment, they can continue to cause pain and keep you from doing the activities you love. Stability of the knee not only comes from the muscles directly around the knee but also those around the hip, which influence the movement of the femur, and those of the foot and ankle, which influence the movement of the tibia.Meniscus tears are a common knee injury among people of all ages. By looking at the biomechanics of the individual, and their strength and flexibility, specific exercises can be set to address their individual needs. The following phase, once symptoms of pain and swelling have settled, is to build up strength and stability of the joint, by working the surrounding muscles. Other movements such as deep squatting, stairs and twisting should also be completely avoided during this rest period. This period may be complete rest, or a significant reduction of impact activity, which will include walking. If the tear is in an area where it is unlikely to hear due to the lack of blood supply, this period is still important as it can allow the inflammation to settle and the body may become less sensitive to the injury. The early phase of rehab and recovery needs to provide the meniscus with the space and time to heal, if the tear is in an area where this is possible to heal. Therefore, healing to the middle is minimal and can influence whether physical therapy alone or surgery and physical therapy are offered as treatments. The meniscus is nourished and maintained by a network of microtubules that move essential elements to the middle. The further inwards, towards the middle of the meniscus the less blood supply there is, and there is no blood supply to the inner half of the meniscus. The blood supply to the outer rim of the crescent-shaped meniscus is poor but present. The location of the injury will impact the choice of treatment as the meniscus has a poor blood supply, so healing is slow. In these cases, physical therapy may not be as effective as the sole management. High-grade tears such as severe grade 2 and grade 3, are more likely to have issues of instability, locking of the joint or giving way. Non-surgical treatment is effective for low-grade tears, where there is less loss of function of the joint. The conservative treatment protocol for a lateral meniscus tear consists primarily of rest or reduced activity, and physical therapy.
