So your doc said you have a meniscus tear? Ouch! And now you are wondering what rehabilitation will be like. This is going to depend on whether or not you had surgery and how bad the tear is. Small tears are common and can even heal on their own if in the right place, which is the outside one-third of the meniscus. This is due to the rich blood supply in that area. So if you are lucky enough to have chosen this place to tear it you are in better shape. Other tears, even small tears, that occur in regions without such a blood supply will not heal or may take extensive time to heal if they do. This is when your doctor may tell you surgery is your best option.

What is rehabilitation like following a meniscus tear?

As with everything about our bodies, it is difficult to compare one person to another due to our composition and genetic makeup. If you are a fit athlete who is in great shape chances are you will have a much faster recovery time than the couch potato. Rehabilitation following a meniscus tear begins with a baseline assessment of how much you are limited. Can you squat? Descend stairs without pain? Walk or stand for > 10 minutes? The answers to these will allow us to establish where in the rehabilitation plan you will begin.

Baseline rehabilitation will start with improving your strength and range of motion (ROM), typically in a non-weight-bearing manner. For strengthening we will have you do isometrics (a fancy way of saying contracting your muscle without movement), seated knee extensions to improve quad strength, and hip exercises that will improve the stability of your knee. To improve your ROM we may have you start on a stationary bike, lay down and then pull your foot toward you using a strap, ball, or slide it along the table.

Patients who are farther along may begin with light-weight bearing options such as small squats, stepping up and/or down on a small step, balance activities, leg presses and resistance exercises for the hip and knee. This will include the greater use of weights, elastic bands, and machines. We typically won’t be pushing you through any painful activities that are in the moderate to severe levels, especially if you have not had the knee surgery. And at this phase we will also be more aggressive with our ROM activities. In order to walk properly you will need 60-70 degrees of knee flexion, but for descending stairs (which is the most common complaint with a meniscus tear) you will knee 110-120 degrees. Note: between 130-145 degrees is a normal ROM for the average person.

Advanced stages of recovery will focus on function, function, function. Doing the things you need to be able to do to perform your activities of daily living or return to your sport. Of course, if you are returning to a sport it may take longer and be more intense than an individual just looking to return to walking and a desk job. Activities at this stage will be things such as walking on the treadmill, advanced stability exercises, running or jumping activities, stair or ladder climbing, squatting and lifting items off of the floor. This is when we try to make sure you are ready for any of the challenges you may face after you are discharged.

Meniscal tears are extremely common knee injuries, and with proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation patients often return to their pre-injury abilities. Even if you elect to try physical therapy first and your meniscus does not heal, you will be in a better position following your surgery. Recovery also depends on the motivation of the patient, so listen to your physical therapist and do your homework….. yes, you WILL have homework!  

We wish you a great recovery and remember, at Synergy Manual Physical Therapy here in Colorado Springs we are always here to provide excellent rehab and answer any questions you may have. Call us today for an evaluation or you may also leave any questions in the comments section. We look forward to hearing from you!

- Synergy Physical Therapy Team

North Office (map)
4105 Briargate Parkway
Suite 255
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
phone 719.282.2320
fax 719.282.2330

South Office (map)
600 South 21st Street
Suite 130
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
phone 719.634.1110
fax 719.634.1112