Can you rehab a torn meniscus

They are located between the thigh bone called the femur and the shin bone of your lower leg called the tibia. The main function of the meniscus is to:. If you have a torn meniscus, we want to let you know how to recover from a meniscus recovery tear without surgery, along with the recovery time for this treatment option. A meniscus tear is an injury that happens due to the twisting motions that are common in football, soccer, basketball and tennis.

It also occurs in older patients whose meniscus has started to degenerate and is more likely to tear when twisted. Initially, you may not feel any pain after the tear, even if you continue playing your sport. Today, in general, doctors recommend conservative treatment, not surgery, when meniscus tears result from degeneration.

If your symptoms persist after 3 months or your symptoms become significant, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the tear. Your doctor may also recommend conservative measures as a first step if the tear is caused by injury to the knee. Conservative treatment for some meniscus tears is well documented as effective. If recommended by your doctor, use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen to reduce pain and swelling for 8 to 12 weeks.

A physical therapist can provide a daily routine of exercises and stretches to improve your muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, and stability. The aim is to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee, such as the front thigh muscles, known as the quadriceps. This will reduce the stress on your knee. It will also help stabilize your balance and help prevent another knee injury.

Studies show that exercise routines can significantly improve knee pain and function. Your doctor may give you a joint injection of glucocorticoids to reduce swelling. This can provide pain relief for 2 to 4 weeks.

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend a special knee brace or other mechanisms to limit your joint movement and stabilize the knee. Traditional Ayurvedic treatments are widely used in South Asia to reduce swelling, pain, and motion restrictions in meniscus tears and knee osteoarthritis.

In general, Ayurvedic treatment considers the whole state of the person, not just the specific location of the pain. Some clinical studies on its effectiveness exist, but more research is needed. Learn about the causes of knee stiffness and…. Pain in the back of the knee has many potential causes, including Baker's cysts and muscle injuries. Learn more about causes, how to treat it, and….

The injury Exercises to try Exercises to avoid Contacting a doctor Summary Strenuous exercise can tear the meniscus, a layer of cartilage in the knee — and certain gentle exercises may help with recovery. What is a meniscus tear? Exercises to avoid. When to contact a doctor. Latest news Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?

Related Coverage. What's to know about torn meniscus? Straight leg raises are a great way to improve your hip strength to help your knees. Here is how you do them:. You can perform the straight leg raises in different positions.

If you are lying on your side while doing it, your gluteus medius muscles will be working, and your gluteus maximus, the big muscle that extends your hip, will be working if you do the prone straight leg raise.

Hip strengthening can also be accomplished with advanced hip exercises like the single-leg bridge or with ball bridges. These advanced exercises may be combined as part of your balance and proprioception exercises for your meniscus rehab. Proprioception is your body's ability to understand where it is in your environment.

How much pressure is on a joint, and what position is the muscle in? Your body's joints and muscles communicate with your brain, telling it where things are.

That's proprioception. Sometimes after a knee meniscus injury, your proprioception becomes impaired. Working with your PT on balance and proprioception exercises may be an important component of your rehab program. Some balance exercises to do may include:. Balance and proprioception exercises should be challenging, but you should always remain safe while performing them.

Be sure you have a safe environment to exercise in and make sure you have something to hold onto while doing balance exercises. Your PT is a great resource to use while learning new balance and proprioception exercises after a meniscus injury. After a few weeks of working on restoring normal range of motion, strength, and balance, it may be time to start to recover your ability to run, jump, and land properly. This can help you return to high-level work and athletic activities.

This can help you restore optimal neuromuscular recruitment of the muscles around your hips and knees. Working on plyometrics as part of your knee meniscus rehab can help minimize stress and strain around your knee when running, jumping, and performing cutting maneuvers during sports. Plyometric exercises and neuromuscular training for your knees may include:.

One important caveat when working on plyometrics for your knee is to be sure your knee is in alignment with your ankle when jumping and landing. A good rule of thumb is to always maintain your knee over your second toe to be sure it is in alignment while jumping. Your PT can make sure you are doing it correctly.