Meniscus Injury

It can take a long time to recover from a torn meniscus as the blood supply to the region is generally poor, resulting in slow healing. 

Here, we will look at the causes and different types of cartilage injuries as well as common meniscus tear symptoms and treatment options.

Knee Meniscus Anatomy

The knee meniscus is made up of thick, crescent shaped bits of cartilage that line the knee on either side of the joint.

Causes of a Meniscus Injury

A meniscus injury may be caused by:

1. Knee Injury

Medial meniscus tears are more common than lateral meniscus tears and often the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is injured at the same time – see MCL Tear.

2. Wear & Tear

Wear and tear at the knee joint associated with aging can also cause a meniscus injury. Cartilage tends to become more brittle with age and everyday use of the knee can result in meniscus tears.  Often this affects the edges of the meniscus which get frayed and torn.

Symptoms of meniscus wear and tear may gradually build or they may be triggered by a particular event e.g. twisting the knee awkwardly. Meniscal tears are also a common feature of knee arthritis.

Types of Meniscus Tears

There are a few different types of tears that can occur with meniscus injuries which you can see illustrated below:

1. Normal Meniscus: shows what a normal meniscus looks like
   
   
2. Vertical/Longitudinal Tear: This is when the tear is located along the length of the meniscus. It can be referred to as either a vertical tear or a longitudinal tear
   
   
3. Bucket Handle Tear: A bucket handle meniscus tear is where part of the cartilage tears away from its insertion to the tibia. This results in a loose flap of cartilage that can move
   
   
4. Transverse/Radial Tear: A transverse meniscus tear (also known as a radial tear) starts at the outer edge of the cartilage and comes inwards
   
   
5. Degenerative Changes: This is where the cartilage wears away losing its smooth surface becoming brittle and thin. It is usually associated with aging

The type, location and size of meniscus injury can affect both the symptoms and the healing time.

Meniscus Tear Symptoms

The three most common meniscus tear symptoms are:

1. Knee Pain

The most obvious meniscus tear symptoms is knee pain. With a meniscus injury there is often a lot of pain in the knee, especially when trying to straighten the leg fully or when bearing any weight though it. Activities such as coming down stairs and squatting down are often painful.

If you can do a full squat, where your buttocks touch your heels, and there is no pain, it is unlikely you have a cartilage problem. As most meniscus injuries affect the medial knee meniscus, they frequently cause medial knee pain.

2. Knee Swelling

3. Knee Locking

One of the most definitive meniscus injury symptom is locking which can occur with more severe tears. This is where the knee joint gets stuck in one position and can’t move. A meniscus tear is the most common cause of a locked knee.

There are two different types of knee locking:

• True Locking: this is where something gets stuck inside the knee joint, usually a small fragment of cartilage (see bucket handle tear above). Often, if you move the leg around for a bit, the knee then unlocks as the cartilage fragment moves out of the way 
  
  
• Pseudolocking: this usually occurs due to pain. If performing a movement is particularly painful, the body will often prevent itself from moving further to try and make sure no more damage is done.

If you don't have any of these meniscus tear symptoms, it is unlikely that you have a cartilage injury. Visit the knee pain diagnosis section for help working out what else may be causing your pain.

Meniscus Injury Treatment

Meniscus injury treatment usually consists of:

1. PRICE

PRICE is the best place to start for the first few days after a mensicus injury before moving on to a rehab programme to strengthen the knee and regain any loss of movement and function. PRICE stands for Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate.

Visit the PRICE treatment section to find out how to use the different elements safely and effectively.

2. Meniscus Tear Exercises

In the meniscus injury exercises section you will find some great exercises that can really help with your meniscus tear recovery.

3. Ice

Ice can really help to reduce the pain and swelling associated with a meniscus injury which helps to speed up healing. By reducing the inflammatory response, you reduce the density of inflammatory chemicals that irritate the torn meniscus, making it easier for it to heal. But when used incorrectly, ice can actually make things worse.

Visit the ice treatment section for the most effective ways to apply ice.

4. Tubigrip

Tubigrip is an elasticated compression bandage that can help  to reduce swelling and to provide some support to the knee after a meniscus injury. However, long term use of tubigrip is not advised as it can result in weakening of the muscles.

Visit the tubigrip compression section to find out more about how it works and how to get the right size for you.

5. Knee Brace

Knee braces provide much more stability than tubigrip, so can be really useful after a meniscus injury, especially if the knee feels unstable.

Usually a basic or advanced knee brace will provide enough support. However, if your meniscus injury is associated with a ligament tear and there is significant instability, then you may need an Elite brace.

6. Knee Meniscus Surgery

Following meniscus injury surgery, it is important to exercise to regain full strength, movement and balance at the knee.

Recovering From A Torn Meniscus

Unfortunately, torn knee cartilage is not very good at regenerating. Tissues require a good blood supply to heal and whilst blood capillaries do feed the outer edges of the meniscus, the central parts of the meniscus are avascular (have no blood supply). This means that often meniscus tears can’t properly heal. 

But by building up the strength of the knee muscles, you can really reduce the symptoms of a meniscus injury and reduce the risk of further damage to the meniscus. Check out our Meniscus Injury Exercises >

Meniscus Injury Summary

Meniscus tears are a common knee problem, especially in sports or as we get older. Common symptoms of a meniscus injury include knee swelling, pain, stiffness, and instability. It can be difficult to move the knee or put weight on it, and some people may experience a popping sound when the injury occurs.

Meniscus injuries can vary in severity and often depend on the type of tear, where it is located in the knee, the activity that caused it, and the patient's age. Recovery times can also vary and may require a combination of rest, physical therapy, and, if necessary, surgery.

The best way to prevent the cartilage from getting torn is to strengthen the knee muscles so the knee is well supported and less weight goes through the joint. If a meniscus injury isn’t sounding quite like your knee pain, visit the Knee Pain Diagnosis section for help working out what is wrong.

You might also be interested in the following articles:

• Front Knee Pain
• Side Knee Pain
• Burning Knee Pain
• Knee Range Of Motion
• Knee Pain On Stairs
• Knee Pain & Popping
• Swollen Knee Treatment

Page Last Updated: 16/03/23
Next Review Due: 16/03/25

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