Meniscus tears are commonly diagnosed and treated with physical therapy, chiropractic, and massage. The size and location of the tear will influence the likelihood of recovery. When treating these tears, our main rehabilitation goals include: restoring pain free range of motion, strengthening the muscles and connective tissue around the knee, identifying weak links at other locations in the body, and improving movement patterns that may cause excessive loading on the knee.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four primary stabilizing ligament complexes of the knee and plays an important role in activities that involve cutting and pivoting movements. There is a spectrum of injury patterns that can affect the ACL ranging from partial to complete tears. Furthermore, concomitant injuries occur in nearly 50% of cases and may include the cartilage surfaces, other knee ligament…
Meniscus tears are commonly diagnosed and treated with physical therapy, chiropractic, and massage. The size and location of the tear will influence the likelihood of recovery. When treating these tears, our main rehabilitation goals include: restoring pain free range of motion, strengthening the muscles and connective tissue around the knee, identifying weak links at other locations in the body, and improving movement patterns that may cause excessive loading on the knee.
Valgus collapse, defined as adduction and internal rotation of the femur combined with external rotation and abduction of the tibia. Essentially the upper leg moves towards the other leg while the lower leg moves away. The combination of these movements creates an immense amount of strain on the knee joint. At lower speed activities (ie distance running) we will see…
The menisci (singular: meniscus) are semicircular shock-absorbing pads of fibrocartilage within the knee that protect the smooth articular cartilage surfaces, provide structural support, and disperse the weight of the body over a larger area. A meniscus is most often torn in one of two ways, either traumatically or due to degeneration. Traumatic tears typically occur following a single twisting episode…
Not all painful meniscal tears need surgery. The symptoms of pain generally will improve slowly over time, but may recur or worsen with activity. Some tears will go on to cause chronic pain, while others resolve almost completely. Non-operative treatment options include activity modification, elimination of painful activities, ice, compression, anti-inflammatory medications, rehab, and injections. Small meniscal tears without mechanical…
The patient with a meniscal tear that is likely to benefit from surgery more than conservative care is one who developed the onset of symptoms acutely, does not have any arthritis, and who has painful mechanical symptoms of catching or locking. Surgery is an outpatient procedure that is performed arthroscopically, typically through two small “poke-hole” incisions. During the arthroscopy, all…
