The Meniscus is a thick form of cartilage which lines the periphery of the knee joint and its main function is to promote joint stability. Injury to the meniscus can be due to an acute incident or can occur overtime resulting in a degenerative tear. Damage to the meniscus leads to pain and loss of function in the joint. There may be associated swelling following a meniscal injury and a loss of movement particularly when trying to bend the knee.

There are two main options of treatment following damage to the meniscus, one is conservative treatment alone consisting of physiotherapy intervention and the second is surgical intervention combined with pre and post-operative physiotherapy. Which approach is best will depend on the type and severity of the tear and also to what level of activity the patient wishes to return to following injury. In cases where the tear is quite severe it is unlikely that this will improve with physiotherapy alone and surgical intervention is usually warranted. If the cartilage damage is quite mild physiotherapy is usually the recommended choice of treatment. With mild cartilage tears the majority of the damage is to the outer layer of the cartilage which is the part that has a blood supply and has the capability to regenerate. Our Chartered Physiotherapists through a combination of joint mobilisation techniques and progressive exercises will help you regain strength and function in the affected joint and aid the healing process.