What are Meniscus Injuries?

The menisci are two crescent-shaped pieces of cartilage in each knee (medial and lateral) that act as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia. Meniscus injuries can be congenital, traumatic, or degenerative.

Congenital / Discoid Meniscus

A discoid meniscus is an abnormally shaped meniscus that is thicker and more oval than normal. It is usually present from birth and is more common in the lateral meniscus. Many people remain asymptomatic, but some develop pain, clicking, popping, or mechanical locking. If symptomatic, surgery may be required to reshape or partially remove the discoid meniscus.

Prevalence:

  • More common in Asian populations (up to 5%)
  • Less common but still seen in Australian children and adolescents
  • Can be bilateral in around 20% of cases

Acute / Traumatic Meniscus Tear

This is the classic meniscus tear seen in athletes. It usually occurs during pivoting, twisting, or sudden changes in direction in sports such as football, netball, basketball, or rugby.

Symptoms include joint line pain, swelling, locking, catching, or giving way. Tears can occur independently or in conjunction with ACL injuries.

Management:

  • Young athletes often benefit from meniscus repair to preserve function
  • Partial meniscectomy if repair is not possible
  • Physiotherapy is crucial for rehabilitation

Degenerative Meniscus Tear

Degenerative tears are common in middle-aged and older adults, often linked to age-related wear and osteoarthritis. They typically present with a gradual onset of pain, swelling, and stiffness rather than acute trauma.

Most degenerative tears can be managed conservatively with physiotherapy, weight management, injections, and load modification. Recent research shows arthroscopic surgery offers little benefit for degenerative tears compared to structured rehab.

Key point: Surgery is rarely recommended in degenerative meniscus tears.

Symptoms of Meniscus Injuries

  • Pain along the joint line (inside for medial, outside for lateral)
  • Swelling develops within 24 hours of injury
  • Clicking, locking, or catching in the knee
  • Difficulty straightening the knee fully
  • Instability or giving way

📞 If you have knee pain with locking, catching, or swelling, book an assessment at Spinal and Sports Care Bella Vista or Parramatta.

Diagnosis of Meniscus Injuries

Clinical Tests:

  • McMurray’s test
  • Thessaly test
  • Joint line tenderness

Imaging:

  • MRI: Gold standard for confirming meniscus tears
  • X-rays: Used to rule out arthritis or fractures

Treatment options

Management depends on the type of meniscus injury:

Congenital/Discoid:

  • Surgery may be required if symptomatic
  • Physiotherapy to support surrounding structures

Acute/Traumatic:

  • Physiotherapy for rehab
  • Meniscus repair preferred in young athletes
  • Meniscectomy only if necessary

Degenerative:

  • Physiotherapy, weight management, injections
  • Surgery is rarely indicated

Role of physiotherapy

  • Improve the strength and stability of quads, hamstrings, and glutes
  • Guide safe rehabilitation, whether managed conservatively or after surgery
  • Correct movement patterns to reduce re-injury risk
  • Progress athletes back to sport-specific activity

Recovery timeline

  • Non-surgical management: 4–8 weeks
  • Arthroscopic meniscectomy: 6–8 weeks
  • Meniscus repair surgery: 4–6 months for full recovery
  • Degenerative management: ongoing care with strength, load, and lifestyle adjustments

Prevention of Meniscus Injuries

  • Neuromuscular prevention programs (FIFA 11+, Netball Knee Program)
  • Strengthening quads, hamstrings, and hips
  • Proper landing and cutting technique
  • Avoiding sudden changes in training load

Taping and bracing

  • Knee braces may provide stability in unstable knees
  • Taping may reduce pain, but it is not a long-term solution

When to see a physiotherapist or chiropractor

📞 If you experience knee locking, catching, or persistent swelling, book an assessment at Spinal and Sports Care for expert diagnosis and care.

Frequently Asked Questions

A congenital variation where the meniscus is abnormally shaped, thicker, and more oval.

More common in Asian populations (up to 5%), but also occurs in Australian children.

Twisting or pivoting movements in sports such as football, netball, and basketball.

No, many can be managed conservatively, but young athletes often benefit from repair.

Age-related wear leading to gradual cartilage breakdown and tears.

Rarely; most are managed with physiotherapy and lifestyle modification.

Joint line pain, swelling, locking, catching, and difficulty straightening the knee.

Clinical tests plus MRI as the gold standard.

Ranges from 4 weeks for mild cases to 6 months after repair surgery.

High in pivoting sports; re-tear rates after repair can reach up to 20%.