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It is difficult to read a sports page in
any major newspaper these days and not see a report dealing
with an athlete sidelined by a knee injury. Knee injuries
are occurring with alarming frequency at all levels of
athletic participation - from "Peewee" to adult, from
recreational to professional.
Most younger athletes injure their knees
by direct trauma or by a twisting type injury. Individuals
can injure their ligaments, articular cartilage or menisci.
A traumatic meniscal tear occurs with little or no trauma.
These degenerative tears are seen more in the older
population. As part of the aging process, the water content
of the menisci decreases and a gradual weakening occurs.
This leads to a decrease in the force necessary to tear a
meniscus.
Your meniscus is crescent-shaped
cartilage, cupped to help hold bones in place. You have one
on each side of your joint - on the outside, the lateral
meniscus, and on the side closest to your other knee, the
medial meniscus. When healthy, the meniscus absorbs shock by
cushioning and distributing forces across your joint. It
also helps stabilize your knee by controlling its rotation.
The outer edge of the meniscus is supplied by nutrient-rich
blood.
Meniscal tears can cause locking to the
knee, buckling of the knee, or just pain and swelling.
Treatment consists of rest, ice, and elevation. In instances
of locking, arthroscopy is necessary to repair the injury.
Depending on the age of the individual and the symptoms that
occur, one's treatment is tailored to each individual.
Treatment may be conservative with physical therapy or may
require surgical intervention.
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