What Causes a Meniscus Tear?

What Causes a Meniscus Tear?

Meniscus tears are commonly seen in sports that involve physical contact, intense kicking, and fast running, such as football, as well as jumping and intervention sports like volleyball and basketball. Meniscus tears can occur when an individual suddenly changes direction while running. In many cases, meniscus tears occur simultaneously with other types of knee injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

Meniscus tears are also common in elderly individuals, especially elderly athletes, due to the weakening and degeneration of the meniscus with age. Meniscus tears can be seen in over 40% of individuals aged 65 and over.

How to Prevent a Meniscus Tear?

Under normal circumstances, it is difficult to prevent meniscus tears as they are often the result of an accident. However, there are some measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of knee injury. Among these measures, regular exercise to keep thigh muscles strong and resilient is the most important. Warm-up exercises should be done before starting heavy exercises.

Individuals should allow time for the body to rest between movements during exercise. Tired and slow-reacting muscles can increase the risk of injury. Shoes should provide adequate support and be worn properly. Flexibility should be maintained, and challenging movements should be limited. Exercise intensity should never be increased suddenly, and intensity should be gradually increased and decreased.

What are the Complications of a Meniscus Tear?

Short-term, excellent results are obtained in 85% to 90% of individuals who undergo surgery for meniscus tears. However, individuals with meniscus injuries that are too large to be repaired may be at higher risk for developing knee arthritis in the long term.

Surgical interventions for meniscus repair are low-risk and rarely result in complications. Possible complications include damage to skin nerves, infection, and knee stiffness. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infection and may also recommend compression stockings to prevent blood clots.