Book appointment
Menu
Book appointmentMy appointments / cancel (in Norwegian)Clinics
Oslo SentrumOsloLørenOsloFornebuBærumSkiFolloKolbotnFolloLysakerBærumFredrikstad StadionØstfoldKlinikk Pluss SandvikaBærumAll clinics
TreatmentsPractitionersPricesContact
More
About BehandlerverketRehabilitationConditionsFranchiseWork with usArticlesHealth insurance
Norsk Call 53 75 55 55

Article

How to treat a meniscus injury?

Knee pain is very common, and in recent years there has been an increase in the number of people seeking treatment. The increase may be related to more active people getting sports injuries, and to a great deal of one-sided loading.

How to treat a meniscus injury?

In one survey, 30% of all women and 25% of all men reported that they had had knee pain during the past year. 80% of all children in lower secondary school have had knee pain, and of these 15% had seen a doctor for help.

One of the most common causes of knee pain, affecting all ages, is meniscus injuries. These injuries can range widely in severity.

A meniscus injury can cause pain during activity, but it can also give a feeling that the knee gives way, buckles or locks. It can prevent you from playing sport or lead to sick leave.

But first of all: what exactly is a meniscus?

There are actually two menisci in each knee joint. One on the inside (medial meniscus) and one on the outside (lateral meniscus). The menisci act as shock absorbers in the knee and distribute pressure between the two joint surfaces. The menisci also help to stabilise the knee and ensure that it can move with as little resistance as possible. Sometimes we get an injury to the meniscus; this can happen, for example, with a forceful twist or after several years of wear and tear.

What is a meniscus injury?

The most common is an injury to the meniscus on the inside of the knee. The reason for this is that the meniscus on the inside is attached to more structures and is therefore less mobile than the meniscus on the outside of the knee.

Meniscus injuries can both occur acutely and develop gradually over time. Acute injuries are more common in younger people, often those active in sport, while overuse injuries or age-related changes (degenerative changes) that develop over time most often occur in adults or older people.

How do we treat a meniscus injury?

It is important that we distinguish between acute and overuse injuries, as the treatment is often very different. In an acute injury, surgery may be necessary, either to remove parts of the meniscus or to repair it so that the meniscus can continue to protect the joint cartilage.

Overuse injuries, on the other hand, cannot be repaired with surgery, but the joint can be cleaned of frayed tissue that can, for example, cause locking or a feeling of giving way. The treatment for this type of meniscus injury is rehabilitation and follow-up with a therapist. Most people who have an overuse injury in the meniscus can get completely better WITHOUT surgery.

Close follow-up during the rehabilitation period is important. The training consists of various types of strength and stability training. The meniscus will gradually tolerate more load, and the training you do should reflect this. The exercises should therefore be individually adapted.

Our physiotherapists, chiropractors and manual therapists can help you with assessment and rehabilitation of meniscus injuries if you need it.

References:

  • Atraumatiske kneplager. Holtedahl R..Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2018
  • Increasing prevalence of knee pain and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: survey and cohort data. Nguyen US, Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Niu J, Zhang B, Felson DT. Ann Intern Med. 2011
  • Evaluating acutely injured patients for internal derangement of the knee. Grover M. Am Fam Physician 2012
  • Towards a Meaningful Self-management Intervention to Improve Long-term Prognosis for Adolescents with Patellofemoral Pain. Michael Skovdal Rathleff. Br J Sports Med 2023.
  • Skadefri om meniskskader: https://www.skadefri.no/kroppsdeler/kne/meniskskader/
  • Meniscectomy as a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Papalia, Rocco, et al. British medical bulletin. 2011.
  • Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative tears of the meniscus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Khan, Moin, et al. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2014.
  • Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus sham surgery for a degenerative meniscal tear. Sihvonen, Raine, et al. New England Journal of Medicine 2013
  • A meta-analysis comparing meniscal repair with meniscectomy in the treatment of meniscal tears: the more meniscus, the better outcome?. Xu, Caiqi, and Jinzhong Zhao. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 2015.
  • Exercise therapy versus arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for degenerative meniscal tear in middle aged patients: randomised controlled trial with two year follow-up. Nina Jullum Kise mfl. BMJ. 2016