Suddenly landing upon your heels or twisting the knee could result in a tear to the meniscus. Meniscus tear can cause stiffness and swelling that restricts your knee from moving easily.

Athletes are at risk of this condition because the majority of the sports require stretching and compression of the knees. The aging process is also one of the many risk factors.

If you’ve recently discovered that the swelling and pain in the knee are due to a meniscus tear and are looking to treat it, then this blog is for you.

If the thought of having surgery to repair a meniscus injury isn’t appealing to you, here’s some good news for you.

Physiotherapy in Manchester is a very effective method to heal from the meniscus tear and get back to normal life without any issues.

Let us now cover everything that you must know about meniscus injury and how physiotherapy can treat it!

What is the meniscus?

Meniscus is a horseshoe-shaped piece of cartilage that is the knee joint. It’s located between the lower part of the Thigh Bone (femur) along with the highest of the Shinbone (tibia). They are there to ensure both bones that fit together comfortably, and also serve as shock absorbers.

What is a tear in the meniscus?

Meniscus is a layer of cartilage inside the knee. It serves several crucial purposes an aids in:

The knee joint slid properly.

Absorb shocks from walking or other activities.

Provide support to the knee.

A tear may occur because of excessive stress, or due to exercising. Common signs include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Clicking
• Catching
• Locking
• weaknesses

The risk of this injury is higher for military personnel who are serving on active duty, as well as extremely active individuals. The risk of getting injured is greater for males who are over 40 years of age.

What happens if you leave Meniscus tears untreated?

As with many knee-related injuries, meniscus tears may tear because of sports that force you to rotate or twist your knee in a threatening manner. This is why many athletes, specifically those who play sports like volleyball, football and soccer are at risk of tears in their meniscus. Seniors have a higher risk because the meniscus is susceptible to weakening with time. In reality, over 40% of people aged over 65 suffer from this problem.

If not treated well, an untreated meniscus that is torn could cause more damage. It could also trigger the onset of osteoarthritis, as well as numerous other painful conditions. Physiotherapy and Osteopathy in Manchester is a great way to aid in the healing process.

How Physiotherapy can Repair Meniscus Damage

Physiotherapy is an effective non-invasive method to regain a torn meniscus or various joint injuries. It’s crucial to recognize the advantages of therapy over surgical knee replacement immediately. Many individuals achieve their functional goals with the aid of physiotherapy. 

Physiotherapy treatment of a meniscus tear is a specific regimen of exercises designed to bring back optimal performance of your knee. A professional Chronic Pain Specialist will help you build up your knee and return the mobility to allow you to resume your daily routine.

It is usually recommended after the meniscus surgery. However, the physiotherapy you receive for a torn meniscus can assist in avoiding surgery altogether. The physiotherapy can employ various techniques and therapies to manage your knee pain and swelling. 

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Meniscus Injury

Avoid Surgery

Surgery is a natural fear, especially for those with tight budgets. 

If you compare the cost of physiotherapy and surgery, the latter is much more costly.

Additionally, certain surgical procedures may be difficult for the human body. Studies suggest that in many instances, surgeries that require invasive techniques do not work for a meniscus tear. Your doctor is likely to recommend physiotherapy as the first option.

However, physiotherapy does not always work. If pain continues to linger or the injury doesn’t heal with the help of conservative treatments then you might need surgery. However, you’ll require physiotherapy if you decide to undergo surgery for the meniscus-related injury.

Manage the Pain

One of the major physiotherapy objectives is to manage or eliminate knee pain. A thorough examination will assist your physiotherapist to develop an individualized treatment plan.

Alongside an exercise program, you’ll also be instructed on the subject of managing pain. When you’re able to function well and control your pain, you can stop going to the clinic for physiotherapy, and instead, manage your treatment at your home itself.

Regain Mobility

The primary goal of physiotherapy is to enhance the range of motion you have. It’s often required after an operation or injury because it can help restore your ability to move:

A detailed physiotherapy plan includes: exercises and stretches.

If you’re an athlete and going back to sports then the lessons learned in physiotherapy could help you to be more secure.

Improve Balance

Lack of balance and coordination makes you vulnerable to falling. 

In the same way, stiff joints as well as tight muscles can lead to injuries. Physiotherapy can help remove these obstacles that hinder your mobility and flexibility.

Standing in one place for 10 minutes is a great measure of your stability. If you feel unstable, you’re more at risk of falling. Following the instructions of your physiotherapist will help restore your balance following a tear to the meniscus. In addition, balance exercises can reduce vertigo or dizziness.

If you’re an athlete or not, injuries and accidents can happen unexpectedly to you at any moment. Enhancing your coordination and balance will prevent accidents from occurring.

Increase Strength and Prevent Future Injury

Alongside aiding you to heal from injuries Physiotherapy is also a way to stop future injuries from happening.

Physiotherapists are trained to identify the weak spots of your body, and then create the treatment plan that will build them up. This could involve a combination of functional and resistance exercises. Muscles that are stronger help the balance of your joints and help protect them from injury.

They’ll also provide you with tips on how to minimize the chance of injuries, for example, getting rid of any obstacles at home to lessen the chance of falling. 

Summary

A meniscus tear is an inflicted injury that could hinder you from engaging in your regular and leisure activities. Speaking with a healthcare professional in a vigorous physiotherapy exercise routine you will quickly be back at your peak of fitness.

At CT Clinic, our professional physiotherapists can effortlessly offer you with a customized program. We have also designed an effective COPA therapy to improve the quality of your life

For the best assistance, book an appointment with our experts at (+44) 0161 4597 034!