Meniscus Tears

The sports medicine experts at TriHealth Orthopedic & Sports Institute and Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine provide patient-centered care, helping you get back to activities you love after a knee injury. Our team offers comprehensive care, from physical therapy to arthroscopic surgery, so you can find the right treatment for your needs. We’ll work with you to heal your injury as quickly and safely as possible with advanced treatment and support along the way.

Meniscus Tears

The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage in your knee between your shinbone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur). When you participate in activities that involve twisting or rotating your knee, you put extra pressure on the meniscus, which can lead to a meniscus tear.

Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries, affecting roughly 850,000 people in the United States per year.

Meniscus tears causes

A meniscus tear most often occurs when you have all of your weight on your knee, then twist or rotate that knee. It can also occur in older adults who have degenerative problems, such as arthritis, in the knee.

Meniscus tears symptoms

A meniscus tear may cause symptoms such as:

• A popping feeling in the knee when the injury occurs
• Difficulty straightening or moving the knee
• Knee pain
• Knee swelling
• Knee weakness

Meniscus tears treatment

Most meniscus tears heal with conservative, non-invasive treatment. However, both surgical and nonsurgical treatments are available and can include:

• Arthroscopic surgery
• Icing the knee
• Over-the-counter pain medicines
• Physical therapy
• Rest from activities
• Total knee replacement (if you have arthritis in the knee)

Meniscus tears risk factors

Certain lifestyle factors raise your risk of a meniscus tear, including:

• Obesity
• Increasing age
• Participating in sports that twist the knee, such as tennis or basketball
• Participating in contact sports like football

Meniscus tears prevention

You can reduce your risk for a meniscus tear by:

• Keeping your thigh muscles strong and flexible
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Resting appropriately between activities or workouts
• Warming up properly before exercise

Make an appointment

Take the first step toward a healthier knee. To learn more or make an appointment with a sports medicine specialist: Call TriHealth at 513 246 2300 or our orthopedic partner, Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, at 513 354 3700.

Beacon and TriHealth have teamed up to transform orthopedic care.

Access broader, superior orthopedic services through the combined efforts of two powerhouse providers, driven to providea model for partnership between independent physicians and health systems in Greater Cincinnati.

Learn More.