What causes a meniscus to tear?
A forceful twist or sudden stop can cause the femoral condyle to grind into the tibial plateau and pinch and sometimes tear the meniscus. This can also occur with a deep squatting or kneeling, especially when lifting a heavy weight. Torn meniscus injuries often occur after athletic activities, especially in contact sports like football and hockey or those where pivoting and sudden stops occur like tennis and basketball. The risk of developing a torn meniscus increases with age as the cartilage begins to wear and lose its resilience. Increasing weight also puts more stress on the meniscus with the potential for wear, degeneration, and tearing. Because of the forces applied to the knee, a torn medial meniscus may also be associated with tears of the medical collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament within the knee joint. What are symptoms and signs of a torn meniscus? When a meniscus is torn, there may be an acute onset of pain in the knee and it may cause a “pop” sensation. Ove
