Meniscus tears are one of the most common types of knee injuries. They typically happen either from an acute knee injury or from natural degeneration as you age.
When you tear your meniscus, it can cause pain and affect the stability of your knee.
Learn more about meniscus tears, including common causes, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.
What Is the Meniscus?
A meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that sits between your tibia and femur.
You have two menisci in each knee. They act as shock absorbers between the tibia and femur, helping to distribute weight when you move and stabilizing your knee.
What Causes Meniscus Tears?
Your meniscus can tear when the knee twists, bends, or rotates awkwardly. In younger people, this typically happens with an acute injury to the knee. In middle-aged to older people, it typically results from age-related tissue degeneration.
About 1 million Americans suffer meniscus tears each year.
Acute meniscus tears
Acute meniscus tears often happen during sports, either from contact or noncontact. Injuries occur when your knee twists unnaturally while you’re planting your foot. This puts a strain on the meniscus, causing it to tear.
A sudden stop or change in direction can cause noncontact meniscus tears. Acute trauma to the knee, such as getting struck by a helmet during a football game, might cause a contact meniscal tear.
Acute meniscal tears are most common in sports with a lot of acceleration and deceleration, jumping, and changes in direction. Examples include:
- Basketball
- Football
- Skiing
- Soccer
Frequent squatting, kneeling, and lifting heavy weights also can put a strain on the knee and cause acute meniscal tears. Weightlifters and people whose jobs require a lot of bending, squatting, and lifting may also face a higher risk.
Meniscal tears often occur along with other knee injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.
Degenerative meniscus tears
Degenerative meniscal tears occur because of the body’s natural degeneration as it ages.
Tissue wears down over time and becomes more prone to injury. Because of that, it typically takes less trauma to cause a degenerative meniscal tear. For example, standing up from a sitting position too quickly could inadvertently twist the knee enough to cause a tear.
Degenerative meniscus tears happen most often in people 40 and older. It may occur in combination with a degenerative condition like osteoarthritis.
What Are Meniscus Tear Risk Factors?
Common risk factors for meniscus tears include:
- Age — You’re at a higher risk of degenerative meniscal tears as you get older.
- Athletic competition — If you play a sport that requires a lot of quick stops and starts and sharp cuts, you face a higher risk.
- Genetic or anatomical factors — You may have a higher risk of meniscal tears if you have differences in your anatomy, such as an abnormally shaped knee.
- Obesity — Excess weight because of obesity puts strain on the knee, which can cause meniscal tears.
- Occupation — People whose jobs require a lot of bending, squatting, and heavy lifting are more at risk.
- Osteoarthritis — People whose knee cartilage has worn down because of osteoarthritis are at risk of a meniscus tear.
- Previous knee injury — If you’ve torn your ACL or suffered another knee injury, you’re at a higher risk of a meniscal tear.
What Are Symptoms of Meniscus Tears?
Common symptoms of meniscus tears include:
- Knee instability.
- Knee pain.
- A locking or catching feeling in your knee.
- A popping or crunching feeling when you move.
- Reduced range of motion.
- Stiffness.
- Swelling around your knee.
You may not feel these symptoms right away. They may develop in the days following the initial injury. Some people can keep moving and even play sports after tearing their meniscus, but symptoms can get worse over time.
See your doctor or an orthopaedic specialist if you have meniscus tear symptoms, especially if you have trouble moving or performing daily activities.
Diagnosing a meniscus tear
Meniscus tears can be difficult to diagnose because their symptoms are similar to those of conditions like ACL injuries or osteoarthritis.
To diagnose a meniscus tear, a doctor typically will perform a medical history and physical exam. They also will order imaging, such as:
- A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
- An ultrasound.
- An x-ray.
These tests can help to diagnose meniscal tears and rule out other conditions.
What Are Meniscus Tear Treatment Options?
Meniscus tear treatment depends on factors like location, severity, and symptoms. Treatment includes surgical and nonsurgical options, such as:
- Rest — Some meniscus tears heal naturally with rest. The RICE method — rest, ice, compression, and elevation — can help.
- Physical therapy — Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to regain strength and stability in your knee.
- Medication — Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can relieve pain and inflammation.
- Surgery — Surgery is typically an option for larger and more complex meniscus tears. It can help reduce pain, increase range of motion and stability, and lower your risk for future damage.
UPMC experts specialize in treating many bone, joint, and muscle conditions, including meniscus tears. Visit our website to learn more or find a location near you.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .