Doctors don’t usually recommend starting a physical therapy routine immediately after a meniscal tear. There’s a lot of swelling and inflammation that needs to go down before exercises can be effective. Doctors usually recommend following the RICE protocol: R is for rest.
Can exercise make meniscus tear worse?
Many runners get back on the road, even elite runners, with a degenerative meniscus tear. If you have a mild ache during the run, or a mildly sore knee after a run then you can often continue running. There is very little risk that running will worsen the tear.
What aggravates a torn meniscus?
Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee. If your pain is severe, using crutches can take pressure off your knee and promote healing.
Is walking good for torn meniscus?
If your doctor has told you that you don’t need surgery to repair your torn meniscus, you may be given the green light to walk. However, you’ll want to be very careful about movements that might worsen the tear or cause you pain. Avoid squatting and pivoting, which are likely to place too much pressure on the knee.
Is it OK to exercise with a torn meniscus? – Related Questions
How can I speed up meniscus healing?
To speed the recovery, you can:
- Rest the knee.
- Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling.
- Compress your knee.
- Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down.
- Take anti-inflammatory medications.
- Use stretching and strengthening exercises to help reduce stress to your knee.
What are 3 signs of a meniscus tear in the knee?
Swelling or stiffness. Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee. Difficulty straightening your knee fully. Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to move it.
Will walking make a torn meniscus worse?
Continuing to walk on the affected leg can aggravate your symptoms, making pain and stiffness worse in as little as a few days. Plus, suffering a torn meniscus may also increase your risk of complications, like developing osteoarthritis in that knee.
What is the best exercise for a torn meniscus?
How do I do exercise to heal my meniscus?
- Quad sets.
- Straight-leg raise to the front.
- Straight-leg raise to the back.
- Hamstring curls.
- Heel raises.
- Heel dig bridging.
- Shallow standing knee bends.
What happens if you walk on torn meniscus untreated?
In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis. In addition moving around with a torn meniscus could pull fragments of the cartilage into the joint causing larger knee issues which could requiring more significant surgery in the future.
How long after a torn meniscus can you walk?
Arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus (meniscectomy)
It may take 4-5 months for full healing. The patient should be able to bear weight on the knee while standing or walking, immediately after surgery. Crutches will be necessary for 2-7 days after surgery.
Will a knee brace help a torn meniscus?
Will a knee brace help a torn meniscus? Yes. Although knee braces do not heal or treat your meniscus tear directly, they can provide extra support and stability for your knee while your meniscus injury heals. A good brace will protect your knee and take the pressure off your meniscus, allowing it to rest.
How long should you stay off a torn meniscus?
If you sit at work, you may be able to go back in 1 to 2 weeks. But if you are on your feet at work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks. If you are very physically active in your job, it may take 3 to 6 months.
Can you live with a torn meniscus?
“You can live with a meniscus tear,” Dr. Parker says. “And it may heal on its own, or just not cause you problems.” However, you’ll know pretty quickly when it is a problem.
Do you ever fully recover from a meniscus tear?
Most people who tear a meniscus can return to full activity. If you have surgery to repair a torn meniscus, your knee should be fully recovered after a few months of physical therapy.
How do I know if I need meniscus surgery?
You might need meniscus surgery if you have severely torn your meniscus. A torn meniscus is a very common knee injury, which happens when you twist or rotate your knee, while putting your entire weight on it. Similar to ankle sprains, meniscus tears are given ratings or grades to classify how serious the injury is.
Is a torn meniscus a big deal?
Part of a torn meniscus can break off and become lodged in the knee joint itself, sometimes causing serious knee mobility issues and pain that require a more invasive surgery than an initial meniscus repair or treatment.
