Do you have a meniscus injury?
Of the many injuries that can occur, there are few worse than having a meniscus injury. This can be extremely painful and also takes a long time to recover, making it the bane of professional athletes around the world. Most people will find that using a brace for meniscus injury can help to contain the debilitating pain that is associated with this injury.
What Exactly is the Meniscus and How Does it Get Injured?
The meniscus is made of fibrous tissue found in the knee joint between the ends of the two leg bones that meet at the knee. This meniscus is constructed of cartilage and is smooth, allowing the joint to flex without the two bones grinding against each other. The meniscus also helps to absorb the impact of walking, running, jumping and other physical activities.
Meniscus injuries come in the form of tears in the meniscus. This happens when a twisting force is applied to the knee, forcing it to move in an unnatural direction. Often times, this is caused by a fall or a strong impact to the body. As the body falls, the leg can become twisted and the tears appear in the meniscus. Older people are particularly susceptible to this form of injury as the meniscus tends to grow weaker with age.
Symptoms Of A Meniscus Injury
The first and most major symptom of a meniscus injury is the searing pain. When the meniscus is torn, the ends of the two leg bones begin to grind against the injured area as well as against each other. This causes severe pain in the joint area.
Another common symptom is the swelling of the knee. When a tear occurs in the meniscus, the joint can fill with blood and other fluids. This causes swelling and inflammation in the knee area. Without medication to quelling the swelling, the knee will remain swollen for quite a while, causing further discomfort.
Sometimes, when there is a meniscus tear, a piece of it can get caught in the joint itself. When this happens, it causes the knee to lock up and prevents it from straightening fully.
Treating a Meniscus Injury
A doctor will often recommend using a knee brace for meniscus injury. Wearing a brace does not entail any invasive surgeries or even medication, making it not only one of the most effective but also the safest forms of treatment.
A brace is essentially a device that is especially designed to mimic the function of the knee, taking over the job of supporting some of the weight of the body. Many athletes wear knee braces while engaged in sporting activities to prevent any kind of knee injury. After a meniscus injury, wearing a support can be particularly helpful as it reduces the pressure on the knee joint, helping to promote healing.
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