Meniscus tear treatment without surgery: Evaluation steps

The meniscus is the pad of cartilage that cushions the ends of the thigh- and shinbones in the knee. A meniscus tear typically occurs when the knee is twisted while your weight is on it, and this is a very common type of sports injury for basketball and football players. There are some cases where meniscus tears can be treated without surgery. However, the best way to tell if your injury can heal without surgery is to undergo a comprehensive evaluation process. This process will typically involve a visit to a licensed orthopedist, and there are three basic steps that the evaluation process usually includes. 

1.   Determining your level of pain

One of the first steps in your evaluation is to determine how much pain you’re experiencing. This step typically involves the doctor asking you several questions. For instance, they may ask what you were doing when the injury occurred. The doctor may also ask if specific movements lead to increased pain or if you feel pain when your knee is resting. Your knee may also be moved in certain ways by the doctor, and they’ll likely ask you to rank any pain this causes from low to high. If the doctor determines that your pain is fairly low, you have a better chance of getting through meniscus tear treatment without needing surgery. 

2.   Checking range of motion

Range of motion is how much you can move your joints in various directions, and your doctor will likely want to check the range of motion of your knee after a meniscus tear. To check your range of motion, doctors can use their hands to gently move the knee, and these movements will mimic the ways your knee would normally move. If you feel pain during any of the movements, you should tell the doctor immediately. The less a meniscus tear is affecting your range of motion, the smaller the tear is likely to be. Smaller tears are good because you’re more likely to be able to do meniscus tear treatment without surgery with small tears. 

3.   Knee imaging

Another evaluation step that can help determine if your meniscus tear can be treated without surgery is knee imaging. Imaging is an important step in this process because it allows the doctor to see the location of the tear. The tear location is important because tears in the outer part of the meniscus are less likely to need surgery. However, tears in the inner meniscus aren’t likely to heal on their own and typically require surgery. To determine where the meniscus has been torn, your doctor may use either an X-ray machine or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to take a picture of the knee. 

Torn meniscus treatment without surgery can be done at Advent Physical Therapy

If your doctor determines surgery isn’t required for your meniscus tear, you can still benefit from physical therapy. At Advent Physical Therapy, we’re ready to help you find the treatment you need for your knee injuries. Our therapy plans are personalized to each individual patient, and this helps ensure your recovery takes least possible amount of time. These plans are so effective because they combine many therapy techniques, and some of the techniques used in your plan may include: 

• Kinesiology taping
• Manual therapy
• Dry needling
• Balance training

Are you ready to take the next step to get our help with your torn meniscus? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.