A torn meniscus is a common sports injury, because of the high amount
of stress that can be placed on the knee during athletic activities. In
order to understand a meniscus tear, we must first look at the anatomy
of the knee joint, and the role that the meniscus plays.
is the Meniscus
The meniscus is fibrocartilage that is found within the knee joint.
There are two menisci in the knee, the medial and lateral meniscus.
They sit between the tibia (shin bone) and the femur (thigh bone). The
primary role of the meniscus is to absorb shock and distribute stresses
through the knee joint. Along with shock absorption, the meniscus also
helps to make the knee joint more congruent.
When standing with your legs straight, approximately 50% of your body
weight is transmitted through your meniscus. As you squat down, the
forces that run through the meniscus increase, up to 80% when your
knees are bent to 90 degrees.
During athletic activities that require running, jumping, and pivoting,
the amount of force placed on the meniscus increases.
How a Torn Meniscus Occurs
Most meniscus tears occur during some type of twisting motion at the
knee. Athletes who suffer a torn meniscus will often describe an injury
that occured while pivoting. Remember, the meniscus sits directly
between the femur and tibia. As you pivot or twist, you will get some
movement between the femur and tibia, and this can often cause damage
to the meniscus. These forces are called shear forces
and are usually the main cause of meniscus tears.
What To Expect
Most people who suffer from a meniscus tear will describe a twisting
type of mechanism of injury. They may describe hearing or feeling a
"pop" in their knee. Pain
is a very common sign of a
Along with pain, swelling
is the another common
sign of meniscus tears.
This injury will usually cause a joint effusion
This is swelling that occurs within the knee joint. A joint effusion
causes the knee to swell up, and is often described as looking like a
"grapefruit" or "balloon". The swelling will surround the entire knee,
not just one side or the other. Swelling from a meniscus tear usually
takes several hours to occur, and is usually noticed the next morning.
Another common sign is the feeling of popping or
clicking within the knee joint. Athletes with meniscus tears may also
describe a feeling of catching, or feeling like their knee "needs to
When a mensicus is torn, sometimes the tear creates a flap of tissue
that moves around in between the femur and tibia. As you flex and
extend your knee, this flap may get caught, causing a catching feeling,
or it may click or pop as it moves. You may not be able to completely
straighten or bend your knee
if you have torn your meniscus.
be due to this flap restricting your motion, and can also be caused by
the swelling in the joint.
The best treatment for a meniscus tear centers around the R.I.C.E.
. Because the meniscus is not usually able to heal
itself, depending on
the severity of your symptoms
a meniscus tear may require surgery. As
with most sports injuries, you should seek medical attention from your
family physician or certified athletic trainer.
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