Meniscal Tear
By Ehren Allen, Certified Manual Therapist/Physical Therapist
Meniscus Tear
This type of tear is a common injury that occurs in the knees of athletes of all ages. In fact, tears to the meniscus may also occur in patients who do not participate in sports.
Some of the Common Symptoms of Meniscus Tear Include:
- Pain along the sides of the knee
- Swelling, especially after activity such as walking or running
- Popping, clicking or catching when bending or straightening the knee
- A sense of instability, or giving way, with twisting activity
- A feeling like your knee locks with walking.

Meniscus Tears of the Knee
Why Do People Call The Meniscus Cartilage?
The term cartilage tear is also associated with the meniscus of the knee. The meniscus is made of cartilage but the knee joint itself also contains articular cartilage.
The meniscus acts as a cushion. Analogous to the shocks in our cars, to dissipate force and protect the knee during activities such as running, walking, and climbing.
Tears can occur acutely, such as stepping in a hole or being tackled on the football field, or chronically over time from normal use.
Treatment options range from therapy and rest, to injections, to even minimally invasive surgical repair using an arthroscope.
As with any other injury, patients with symptoms that last for longer than 1 week should seek care with one of our JOI knee specialists.
Want to learn more about orthopedics? Click HERE to watch our YouTube Videos. Related article: Foot pain in athletes, Types of Meniscus Tears and Lateral Meniscus Tear.
JOI and JOI Rehab
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.
To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
JOI Rehab