
12/08/2025
🦵 Knee pain holding you back?
It might be your meniscus — here’s how to spot the signs, what you can do, and when to get it checked.
1️⃣ Meniscal Anatomy
Your meniscus is a C-shaped cartilage pad inside the knee that acts as a shock absorber and stabiliser. You have one on the inside (medial) and one on the outside (lateral).
2️⃣ Common Problems
Tears can be traumatic (sports, twisting, impact) or degenerative (wear over time).
3️⃣ Signs & Symptoms
Swelling, stiffness, pain with twisting, “locking” or “catching,” and difficulty squatting. These can lead to reduced function, lower quality of life, and mental strain.
4️⃣ How Physio Can Help
Rehab focuses on mobility, strength, and proprioception. Evidence shows targeted exercise can improve pain and function — often avoiding surgery.
5️⃣ When to Investigate
If symptoms stop you completing rehab, or there’s no progress after a structured programme, an MRI (gold standard for diagnosis) may be appropriate. Both surgery and conservative care can be effective depending on the tear and your goals.
6️⃣ Takeaways
Listen to your body and act on knee pain early.
Get a thorough physiotherapy assessment for an accurate diagnosis.
Not all tears mean surgery — but all need careful load progression, stress management, and long-term lower-limb conditioning.
References & Experience: Kumar et al. 2025, Mao et al. 2025, Monson et al. 2025, plus 18 years of clinical physiotherapy experience.
📞 Need help? Contact us:
Tel: 07738 427 670
Email: info@mccannphysiotherapy.com
Web: www.mccannphysiotherapy.com