Meniscus Tear & Pain Treatment in New York
What is a meniscus tear?
An injury to the meniscus, often called a torn meniscus, is a very common knee injury that often occurs during high-speed sports. The meniscus, which is a C-shaped cushion of cartilage on both sides of your knee, helps to protect the thighbone and shinbone from rubbing. When this cushion is torn, it can cause intense pain, swelling, stiffness, and inability to move in your full range of motion. A torn meniscus is generally caused by a sudden and forceful twisting or rotating of your knee, especially if your body weight is on the knee at the same time.
At Performance Health in NYC and Pearl River, our board-certified sports medicine physicians and specialists are experts at treating meniscus tears and other injuries. Learn more about our treatment options for a torn meniscus below, or request an appointment using the form on this page. You can also give our knowledgeable and dedicated orthopedic surgeons a call at 212-486-8616 today for your one-on-one appointment in NYC!
What causes a torn meniscus?
A meniscus tear occurs due to high-impact sports or activities, specifically those that cause you to forcefully or suddenly change directions. Other movements, such as squatting, kneeling, or heavy lifting can also cause extreme stress on the knee and result in a torn meniscus.
Over time, the meniscus can also lose its elasticity and strength and result in a “wear and tear” meniscal injury that has not been brought on by a sudden trauma. Instead, the meniscus pain gradually onsets and worsens over time.
What are the symptoms of a torn meniscus?
Symptoms that may warrant a visit to Performance Health to evaluate your knee condition include the following symptoms of a medial meniscus tear:
- Swelling
- Skiing
- Stiffness
- Meniscus pain
- Difficulty twisting, rotating or extending your knee
- “Locked” feeling
- “Popping” sensation
What are the risk factors for a meniscus injury?
If you have any of the below symptoms of tendonitis, it is important to visit Performance Health or another qualified medical facility to evaluate your condition and learn about your treatment options:
- Age – Patients with degenerative meniscal injuries tend to be over the age of 60, while injury-induced meniscal injuries tend to occur in younger people.
- Gender – Studies show that men are more likely to suffer from a degenerative meniscal injury than women.
- Sports – Sports like rugby and soccer that are high-impact and require sudden changes in direction increase the risk of a knee injury.
- Workplace conditions – People who work in conditions that require heavy lifting, constant kneeling or squatting, or climbing many stairs are at a higher risk of a meniscus tear.
How is a meniscal injury diagnosed?
There is no single meniscus tear test to diagnose a meniscal injury, however, the experienced professionals at Performance Health can diagnose your knee condition using a combination of diagnostic measures during a consultation. In addition to a simple physical exam, including analysis of the joint and symptoms, your physician may determine that one or more diagnostic tests are needed.
What are some torn meniscus treatment options?
Sometimes, a meniscal injury can be treated with conservative treatments, including:
- Physical therapy and myofascial release
- Pain management
- Sports medicine and rehabilitation
- Massage therapy
- Regenerative and alternative medicine
If you are suffering from tendonitis pain, the first step to improving your health and returning to your normal activities is to schedule an evaluation at Performance Health. Our physicians can help you get back to performance-level health. Call one of our New York offices at 212.486.8616, or fill out the form on this page to request an appointment now.
Physical Therapy Exercises in New York
What is therapeutic exercise?
Performance Health in NYC & Pearl River offers therapeutic exercise services, including physical therapy exercise programs. These are based on each person’s unique needs and performance goals. Therapeutic exercise can target a range of common problems and may include shoulder rehab exercises, physical therapy exercises for knee injuries, or lower back physical therapy exercises, among many other targeted programs. Our physical therapy exercise programs are backed by principles of functional medicine, exercise physiology, and kinesiology—blended to create both innovative and highly effective treatment methods. The goal of our therapeutic exercise program is to help you look and feel your best while also improving your level of performance. Before receiving physical therapy treatments, all of our patients first undergo a PH functional assessment, which will evaluate your strengths as well as weaknesses and areas for growth. Schedule a consultation today.