A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that can happen to anyone, from professional athletes and dancers to anyone who steps wrong while walking, climbing, running, or jumping.

The knee joint is a complex structure that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). It consists of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage. The cartilage structure in the knee is called the meniscus.

The function of the meniscus in the knee is to absorb shock, distribute weight, and stabilise the knee. when the meniscus is damaged, it can cause a tear. With a torn meniscus, it is not possible, to bear weight and absorb shock in the knee, and walking can become difficult and painful.

Types of Meniscal Tears

Acute Meniscal Tears

This type of injury is the result of an instant when the person twisted their knee by turning suddenly while their feet were firmly planted on the ground. The twist tears the cartilage.

Degenerative Meniscal Tears

This injury to the knee happens gradually as it is subjected to repeated movements. For example, a factory worker lifting heavy equipment over the years may develop degenerative meniscal tears. It is also common among older people. Research has shown that physical therapy is as effective as surgery for healing knee meniscal tears resulting from ageing.

Meniscus Tear Treatments

Surgery is not an uncommon option to repair a torn meniscus – it is mostly reserved for incidents that cause major damage to the knee or when more conservative therapies are unsuccessful. This article will focus on physical therapies for meniscal tear treatment.

Medication

Nonsurgical options for meniscus tear treatment include medication. To relieve the painful inflammation caused by a meniscus tear, health practitioners prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs). These medications are effective but must be used with caution.

Ice

To reduce swelling and relieve pain, your doctor or physiotherapist will apply an ice pack to the injured knee. When doing this at home, apply an ice pack for about 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Wrap the ice cubes or frozen vegetable pack in a towel to ensure the ice doesn’t touch your skin directly.

Swelling that goes down consistently is a good indicator of recovery.

Compression

Compression involves wrapping a compression bandage around the knee or wearing a special medical stocking. Compression is commonly used as part of regular treatments to reduce swelling.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is a non-invasive technique used to treat physical injuries and chronic conditions resulting from overuse or the ageing process.

It is a hands-on technique that uses pressure at the point of pain or limited motion. This allows passive movement of the joints and soft tissue, preparing them for return to normal functioning. Manual therapy is usually part of a comprehensive treatment protocol involving various traditional physical therapy techniques.

Manual Therapy Holds the Following Benefits

Pain Relief

A meniscus can be very painful, so one of the prime aims of treatment is the reduction of pain. Many patients report that their pain is alleviated by manual therapy.

Increased Movement

Therapists use precise but gentle pressure to encourage the movement of joints and soft tissue. This helps greatly to re-establish mobility and the ability to start walking with ease.

Reduced Inflammation

Manual therapy naturally stimulates blood flow, so gentle manipulation of the joint and soft tissue brings ample blood carrying vital nutrients that can help to reduce inflammation, and the pain caused by inflammation. The increased blood flow plays an important role in the healing process.

Combat Stiffness

Physical injury tends to lead to stiffness in the joints and soft tissue which can be uncomfortable and hinder movement. Manual therapy can help to reverse stiffness and ease movements.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release, or trigger point therapy is also a hands-on technique. It focuses on releasing tension in the facial tissues, a network of connective tissue throughout the body. It connects all the muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, veins and organs, so if it is impaired in some way, the whole body is affected.

When the body experiences trauma, like a meniscus tear, the fascia can lose its flexibility and the resulting tightness can cause pain and aggravate immobility. Myofascial pain presents as stiff nodules or knots in the muscles. A therapist can massage these, bringing great relief in stiffness and pain.

Exercises

Exercise plays an important role in knee rehabilitation after an injury. The correct exercises can help an individual slowly regain strength and flexibility.

Range of Motion Exercises

Restoring the range of motion at the knee is essential for its normal functioning. These exercises can relieve stiffness and pain and promote an adequate range of motion at the knee, which is vital for walking, climbing stairs, running, kneeling, squatting, etc.

Strengthening Exercises

Knee-strengthening exercises focus on strengthening the muscles surrounding the knees. Developing strong muscles below and above the knees can support them by taking some strain off the knee joint. These exercises address how a person moves when bending, walking, running, or squatting. The aim is to strengthen the muscles to take the strain off the knee joint and support it.

Multiple therapies are available to treat meniscus tears. A treatment plan that includes a range of different therapies offers a better chance of success than one that focuses only on a single treatment approach. Suffering from a meniscus tear? Contact Ray of Health today for effective meniscus specialist in Singapore.