Are You Suffering From A Meniscus Tear? - Consider Using a Knee Brace!

Do you ever wonder why your knee hurts? It may be due to meniscus injury. What is it and what could be done about it?

A meniscus tear is an injury to the shock absorber of the knee joint. Two types of cartilage are in the knee. The meniscus is a type of cartilage that sits between the thigh bone and shin bone. The meniscus functions to cushion the knee joint and provide stability to the knee joint. Meniscus tear is a common injury to the meniscus.

What does the meniscus do?

The meniscus functions to distribute your body weight across the knee joint. Without the meniscus present, the weight of your body would be unevenly applied to the bones in your legs (the femur and tibia). This uneven weight distribution would cause excessive forces in specific areas of bone leading to early arthritis of the knee joint, among other problems. The function therefore of the meniscus is critical to the health of your knee.

An acute meniscus tear can be treated with ice application, rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy. These simple measures will help decrease swelling and pain in the joint depending on the size and type of the meniscus tear, and the physical demands of the patient. A cortisone injection can be a helpful treatment to reduce inflammation within the joint, but it will not help heal the meniscus tear.

However, if these treatments fail to provide relief, a surgical procedure may be recommended. This will be determined by a medical professional, so it is important to consult.

Consider Using Knee Braces

Many doctors recommend knee braces to help the knee to be stable. Wearing well-designed knee braces can be very effective and inexpensive way to protect the knee while it is still healing. When the knee heals, the knee braces can help prevent more injuries and can protect the joints and ligaments from being further injured.

Remember, small problems concerning the knees can develop into a major injury so if you do have knee pains better address them seriously and properly. Do not get a knee brace from someone that just reads the label either. It is important to deal with a brace specialist when getting a well designed knee support. This is health information. Remember to speak to your doctor about any specific medical advice. This article should not be seen as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional.