The meniscus is very strong, but maintenance is essential

Meniscus injury is actually very common in our lives. Unfortunately, some people think that knee pain caused by meniscus injury is just a minor strain and do not pay much attention to it. Over time, the condition worsens and turns into meniscus tear and cartilage destruction, causing irreversible damage, thus affecting motor function. Therefore, many people are confused: I often hear people around me say "meniscus tear", is the meniscus very fragile?

The meniscus is actually very strong

Let's talk about the location of the meniscus first. The human knee is composed of the femur above, the tibia below, the patella in front, and the surrounding tendons, ligaments and cartilages. The meniscus is between the femur and the tibia, like two gaskets embedded in it. The knee joint is the most used joint in the human body. The meniscus can play a good role in buffering, lubricating and stabilizing the joint, which can better protect the knee.

Knee pain does not necessarily mean a meniscus injury. There are four symptoms of meniscus injury: swelling, pain, snapping, and locking sensation. If all four of these symptoms occur at the same time, then it is very likely that the meniscus is injured and you need to seek medical attention promptly.

The meniscus is actually very strong. It has to withstand tension and pressure from all directions during human activities. Studies have shown that the meniscus can withstand a force as large as the weight of 5 to 6 adults, but some specific movements can easily cause it to tear. Under normal circumstances, the knee joint can move in four directions: flexion, extension, internal rotation, and external rotation. If the knee joint rotates violently while flexing and extending, it will cause a tear to the meniscus, such as sudden turns and sudden stops. Common sports that are prone to injury include basketball, football, weightlifting, etc.

If you don't exercise, your meniscus will tear.

The above mentioned is traumatic tear. In fact, if you do not exercise, but only age or some work-related knee joints are subject to long-term strain, it will also cause meniscus degeneration, leading to degenerative tear. For example, some jobs require long-term squatting, which puts a lot of pressure on the knee joint. Over time, it will cause micro-tears in the meniscus, which is more likely to happen in middle-aged and elderly people.

Sometimes doctors will ask patients to take MRIs. The initial report may show: meniscus degeneration; there will be a small bright spot on the film. If it is not protected from then on, this bright spot may gradually expand and slowly evolve into a meniscus tear.

Protecting the meniscus is the most important thing

Only the outer one-third of the meniscus has blood vessels supply, and the inner two-thirds can only rely on synovial fluid for nutrition. The nutrition here is far less than that in the blood, so if the tear occurs on the outer edge, it can slowly heal itself, but if it occurs on the inner edge, it is almost impossible to heal itself.

Therefore, it is most important to protect the knee joints and take preventive measures. First, you must warm up thoroughly before exercise; second, you can wear a kinesiology patch during exercise to protect the knee joints; third, you should strengthen the muscles around the knee joints on a daily basis to correct some bad postures and gait.

Acute treatment of meniscus injury is very important

If you are unfortunately injured, it is important to deal with the acute stage of meniscus injury. If the tear occurs on the outer edge and the tear is not serious, and no surgery is required, it is necessary to fix it in time, wear a brace in the early stage, fix the knee in the straight position, and gradually adjust the chuck to increase the range of motion in the later stage. This is done to avoid further damage and promote tissue repair. Because the self-repair ability of the meniscus is poor, it is recommended not to remove the brace at will when walking in the early stage to prevent further damage.

If the tear can only be repaired through arthroscopic surgery, early functional exercise after the repair is also very important. Three months after the operation is the golden period for recovery.

The first stage after surgery (0-2 weeks): Inflammatory response period, reducing swelling and relieving pain, maintaining quadriceps muscle strength, avoiding muscle atrophy, and mobilizing the patella;

The second stage after surgery (2 to 8 weeks): tissue regeneration period, strengthening joint mobility and muscle strength training, and improving gait;

The third stage after surgery (8 to 12 weeks): functional remodeling period, during which the affected side gradually becomes the same as the healthy side, proprioception is strengthened, and daily living abilities are restored.

It is best to go to the rehabilitation medicine department to make corresponding rehabilitation plans based on different injuries, which will help recover faster and better.

The meniscus is very strong, but it also needs careful protection. "Be careful and take care of your knees when you walk, and don't sigh in vain when you get old."