Watch this VIDEO about meniscus tears. There are two common categories in which most meniscus tears are grouped. Acute tears and degenerative tears.
Human Meniscus Anatomy
The quick answer, a meniscus tear rehab will usually take about 4-8 weeks to heal without surgery. You should reduce your activities and sports. A physical therapist can work with you to strengthen the hips and thighs, which helps with recovery. Some meniscus tears will heal on their own, and some will not. Healing depends on where the tear is located and the severity. Working with a JOI Rehab Therapist can help you regain knee range of motion and strength.
Technically, yes, you can. It depends on your specific tear and activity levels and how often you perform activities that cause and increase your pain. It would be best if you spoke with your orthopedic physician or physical therapist about your meniscus tear.
Walking can be useful to improve your weight-bearing tolerance and loosen up the knee. Meniscus injuries are often worsened by pivoting or twisting or bending motions.
Walking can help with meniscus tear rehab.
Speak with a physical therapist for the rehabilitation of your torn meniscus. Meniscus tear rehab can be done before or after surgery or instead of surgery. Your physical therapist will give you exercises that will help rehab a torn knee meniscus.
Lay or sit with your leg straight out and prop your heel up on a pillow. Keep your knee as straight as you can, squeeze the thigh muscle, and hold for 5-10 seconds. Do 20-30 times. Do not perform into pain.
Quadriceps Setting
Lay with your injured leg straight and your non-affected leg bent. Keep your knee perfectly straight and raise your injured leg straight up. Perform 3 sets of 10.
Straight Leg Raises
Lay in the fetal position. Keeping your feet together and without rolling back, lift only the top knee. It is as if a clam-shell is opening. Perform 30 times.
Clam-shells
Hold onto a counter for support as needed and feet hip-width apart. Bend your knees, stick your buttocks out into a mini squat (about 45 degrees down) and back up. Repeat 3 sets of 10.
Mini squats
Cortisone can help decrease inflammation and pain associated with a meniscus tear. However, it will not help heal a meniscus tear. Cortisone injections are not recommended if the meniscus is repairable, as it could interrupt healing.
Meniscus tear rehab is focused on decreasing the reactivity of the knee. This often involves R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). In a rehab clinic, patients are instructed in joint protection strategies (avoiding squatting, twisting, or walking on uneven terrain). They are given exercises such as quad setting, and straight leg raises to help keep the muscle tone and strength in the leg while recovering from injury. Also, the range of motion exercise is given to minimize stiffness.
Electrical modalities are often utilized to decrease pain and swelling, as well ass for muscle re-education. In the early recovery phase, crutches are often beneficial as they can unload the knee to make walking easier. As the pain and swelling diminish, higher level exercises can be performed to improve the knee's strength and mobility.
Arthroscopic knee surgery before torn meniscus rehab
Your orthopedic surgeon will discuss which surgical option is best for you or if conservative treatment is better. Rehab following a meniscectomy initially focuses on decreasing swelling and pain and trying to decrease the strain to the knee. It is similar to the is needed following the initial meniscus tear injury.
Meniscus repair surgery
Rehab following a meniscal repair is different from a meniscectomy as the newly repaired meniscus needs to be more protected. With this surgery, the torn meniscus is pulled back together and held in place with either a stitch or surgical anchor. Because of this, weight-bearing is limited to avoid re-tearing the tissue. Also, limitations are made to avoid bending the knee too far, as this can also damage the repair in the early phase of recovery. Like other meniscal tear rehabs, the focus initially is to decrease swelling and pain. As this improves, exercises are performed to restore knee strength and mobility. Advancement of rehab intensity is based on the type of surgical repair, length of time of healing, and the response to the rehab already performed.
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