Physiotherapy for Meniscus Tear
Meniscus Tear
A meniscus tear is definitely an injury to any of the cartilage pads within your knee joint. Meniscus tears commonly exist in people whose activities involve twisting of the legs while their feet are firmly planted on the ground. Meniscus tear is also called meniscal tear.
Reasons for Meniscus Tear
Meniscus tear often comes about when the knee is forcefully turned as the foot is firmly planted on the floor. For example, you suddenly twist your upper leg while your feet are planted when you dribble a basketball around a rival or you turn to hit a tennis ball.
Sports activities in danger for meniscus tear
The condition can also be caused by a direct blow towards the knee, which may also render other knee structures damaged. Sometimes, meniscus tears sometimes happens in older people. As you age, the menisci often become weak and thin out, which might increase the likelihood of a degenerative meniscus tear to happen.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a meniscus tear can include
Pain, especially when you straighten your knee
Swelling
Knee joint stiffness
Tenderness
Clicking knee or knee locking
Feeling individuals knee “giving” way whenever you attempt to walk
Difficulty straightening your knee
Others may go through or hear a “pop” during the time of their injury.
inquire about your activity that resulted in your injury and then any related medical history. She or he will then perform a thorough study of your knee including checking for tenderness along your knee joint line. Your physician may also use the “McMurray test,” the industry special orthopedic test that after tested positive may suggest a torn meniscus. Recommend imaging tests for example X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee to look for the actual cause of your knee pain in order to confirm a diagnosis.
Treatments
For those who have a minor meniscus tear your physician may recommend that you stick to the RICE protocol for minor injuries. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Your physician may advise you to
Rest and limit movement of the knee for a day or two to permit healing.
Apply a cold compress on your injured knee for Twenty minutes at a time, every 3 to 4 hours daily until your pain and swelling subsides. Make sure to wrap the pack with towel before you apply to your injured knee.
bandage to reduce swelling in your knee. If you're unsure how to apply the bandage, don’t hesitate to inquire about your physical Make use of an elastic therapist or doctor.
Raise your limb above the degree of your heart. This could help reduce your swelling.
Dominate the counter medication for example acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Undergo physical rehabilitation.
Use crutches to avoid stressing your injured knee
Surgery might be recommended by your doctor if conservative treatment options don't relieve your symptoms or maybe you have other damaged knee structures. You need to discuss with your doctor concerning the risks of having knee meniscus surgery and what you are able expect after your surgery.
Physical rehabilitation for Mensicus Tears - Treatment Options
Your physical rehabilitation rehabilitation program depends upon your symptoms and whether you've had knee surgery or not for your meniscus tear. Physical rehabilitation treatments may include a mix of any of the following
Ice / hot packs
Applying Ice for Sports Injury
Applying Heat for Sports Injuries
Hydrotherapy
Gentle flexibility (ROM) exercises
Stretching / flexibility exercises
Strengthening exercises
Balance exercises
Stretching / mobilization techniques
Gait (walking) training using crutches throughout the initial stage of recovery
Electrotherapeutic modalities for example ultrasound or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Meniscus Tear Treatment
Most orthopedic surgeons agree this problem should be evaluated further with tests like a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in addition to a very thorough background and physical exam. In case your knee continues to produce pain and giving way, your personal doctor may recommend surgery, usually an arthroscopic surgery. However, not every people with a meniscus tear need a surgery. Some people are able to accept a meniscal tear and steer clear of surgery if their symptoms aren't too bad and with respect to the exact circumstances from the tear. If you are told that you'll require "conservative care" (meaning that you don't need surgery), your physician will tell you you need to: Control, Avoid, and Rehabilitate.
Cryotherapy (i.e., ice or cold therapy) is a superb way to control your pain. Don't apply ice straight to your skin for more than 5 minutes as it can certainly cause burns. A tool specially designed to cool your joint (see our Polar Care Cub) may be used for longer periods, as long as you carefully stick to the directions and discontinue its use for those who have pain or a burning sensation.
Over-the-counter pain medications could be of use. These include anti-inflammatories for example MotrinTM (ibuprofen) and AleveTM (naproxen), and pain medications, for example TylenolTM (acetaminophen).
Occassionally heat can be of great benefit after the initial pain has resolved. Heat may also be useful to combat stiffness. You are able to apply a heating pad on the low setting for approximately 10-20 minutes at any given time. If you do not have a heating pad, use a soft terry cloth soft towel placed under warm (not hot) plain tap water.
The use of glucosamine sulfate can benefit people with arthritis. Often individuals with meniscal tears, if they are "middle-aged", might have arthritis, or softening from the cartilage known as chondromalacia. Ought to be fact, the usual reason to deal with someone with a meniscus tear without surgery is because do have some element of arthritis.
Bracing. Braces provides pain alleviation by stimulating a number of your nerve fibers which will make you feel that your joint is much more stable and secure. Fundamental essentials same nerve fibers you compress whenever you grab your finger once you hit it having a hammer. Even though your finger only agreed to be smashed, you squeeze it together with your other hand as hard as possible and it makes it feel good.
With a meniscus tear, bracing keeps your knee warm (to mask you pain) and also provides stability that decreases those motions that create increased pain (for example, side-to-side motions and twisting motions frequently result in the pain of a meniscal tear worse). However, even though braces may make your knee feel more stable, your knee can continue to have some "giving-way". If this continues, you need to see your doctor. We provide two braces to help your pain having a meniscal tear. If you like a brace which will give you significant support, try our DonJoy Drytex Hinged Knee Brace. Should you just want some gentle compression and support (for a degenerative meniscus tear, for example), our DonJoy Comfort Knee Brace will fit you well. For level of knee support that's something in between, try our DonJoy Tru-Pull Advanced Hinged Patellar Knee Brace
Avoid activities that create your pain
Similar to the old bad joke concerning the patient that told a doctor: "Doc, everytime I do this, my knee hurts" and also the doctor replies: "Well, avoid that!" Even though this may seem humorous, there's some truth towards the joke. Your body is promoting a very complex mechanism tell you that something is wrong. Humans that ignored these indicators are no longer living with us today. When our great, great ancestors didn't listen to this mechanism, these were killed off by disease or by predators. Thus, pain provides a warning signal to prevent, rest and make a move else. Avoid such activities as squatting, kneeling, heavy-lifting, climbing, and even running. Pay attention to your body and make a listing of activities or movements that improve your pain and DON'T DO This stuff. Also, make a list of activities and movements that lower your pain and DO This stuff. For example, many doctors recommend the next (be sure to check with yours to ensure he/she agrees).
DON'T DO these for those who have meniscus tear:
Squat.
Twist your knee.
Walk on uneven terrain.
DO these:
Attempt to sleep with your legs out straight during the night instead of curling up right into a ball.
Rehabilitate your knee
The important thing to this step would be to remember controlled motions. Which means you have complete control of these motions via a structured rehabilitation program. Most rehabilitation programs can be achieved in the convenience and privacy of your home. If you have a meniscus tear, much of your rehabilitation will be centered on both your quadriceps (thigh muscle) and hamstrings (muscles behind your knee) muscles. In specific cases, your physician may prescribe formalized physical rehabilitation, with a therapist or trainer.
The secrets of rehabilitation include
Motivation to really do the exercises. See our page on motivational ways of improve your success.
Correct exercises for your condition. See your doctor or physiotherapist if you need advice in connection with this.
Proper equipment. This equipment can either attend your therapists office, at the health club, or items which you purchase for use at home. We've found that people who do their exercises at home tend to be more likely to benefit from the program because they more frequently perform the exercises. Our Deluxe Knee Rehabilitation Kit is only the answer for someone who desires to do knee exercises at home safely and economically.
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