Expert Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation for Meniscus Tear and Knee Injury in Singapore
How can our physiotherapists help with your meniscus injury?
A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries, affecting the crucial, C-shaped cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and stabiliser in the knee joint. Injury to this area, whether it's a sports knee injury or a degenerative tear, often disrupts normal knee mechanics and leads to significant knee pain, swelling, and reduced mobility.
ProHealth Asia's meniscus tear physiotherapy addresses this knee condition through comprehensive assessments and targeted interventions. By evaluating your knee's range of motion, strength, gait, and stability, our physiotherapists in Singapore can create a personalized rehabilitation plan to facilitate healing, strengthen surrounding musculature (crucial for long-term knee health), and restore optimal knee function. Our goal is to alleviate acute knee pain, minimise the risk of further meniscus injury, and guide you safely back to your desired level of activity after your knee injury.
Meniscus Tear Symptoms, Causes, and Advanced Treatment Approach
Understanding the Root Causes of Your Meniscus Tear
The menisci (medial and lateral) are essential pieces of cartilage in the knee, providing cushioning between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). They help distribute load and maintain joint stability. A tear, or meniscus injury, can result from various factors:
Sudden Trauma & Sports Injury: This is often the cause of an acute meniscus tear, occurring during activities like football, basketball, or skiing, when the knee is twisted or rotated forcefully while the foot is planted on the ground.
Degenerative Meniscus Tear: In older adults, the cartilage weakens over time, making it susceptible to tearing with minimal trauma, even from a simple squatting motion. This is a common non-sports related knee injury.
Repetitive Strain: Activities that involve frequent squatting, kneeling, or heavy lifting can contribute to a gradual meniscus injury.
Symptoms of a Meniscus Tear and Knee Injury
Recognising the signs of a meniscus injury is the first step toward effective rehabilitation:
Sharp Knee Pain: Located in the knee joint, often worsening with activity or twisting movements.
Swelling and Stiffness: Inflammation that develops over a few hours or the next day following the injury.
Mechanical Symptoms: A distinct "locking," "catching," or "giving way" sensation in the knee, where movement is temporarily blocked or unstable.
Popping Sensation: A distinct sound or feeling in the knee at the moment of injury.
Restricted Movement: Difficulty achieving full knee extension or flexion.
Assessment and Diagnosis of Knee Injury
Our expert physiotherapists can help perform precise assessments to determine the root cause and severity of your meniscus tear or general knee injury. They will conduct a thorough physical examination and specific orthopaedic tests (such as McMurray's test) to identify the extent of the meniscus damage and create an accurate treatment plan.
Meniscus Tear Treatment and Rehabilitation Sessions
Our physiotherapists tailor treatment sessions based on the type, size, and location of your meniscus injury (and whether non-surgical or post-operative rehabilitation is required). A targeted meniscus tear rehabilitation program in Singapore may include:
Pain Management Strategies: Implementing principles to immediately reduce acute knee pain and swelling.
Manual Therapy: Gentle joint mobilisation and soft tissue techniques to reduce stiffness and improve knee joint mechanics.
Progressive Strengthening: A tailored exercise plan focused on restoring full range of motion and intensively strengthening the key muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves) essential for knee stability and preventing future knee injury.
Proprioception Training: Specific exercises to improve balance and your body's awareness of the knee's position in space—critical for athletes returning to sport after a meniscus injury.
Activity Modification & Return to Sport: Expert guidance on safely modifying daily activities and a structured progression for athletes to return to their sport following meniscus tear repair or rehabilitation.