Meniscus injury – causes, symptoms and knee protection for meniscus problems
Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries and affect either the inner or outer meniscus. The injury can cause pain, stiffness, and locking in the knee joint, and sometimes requires treatment or surgery to regain full function.
What is a meniscus injury?
The meniscus is the knee joint's shock absorber and stabilizer. An injury often occurs through twisting or overloading, where the meniscus tears or detaches. Internal meniscus injuries are the most common and can cause significant pain in the joint space on the inside of the knee. External meniscus injuries instead cause pain on the outside of the knee.
Common causes & risk factors
A meniscus injury often occurs in connection with sports or accidents where the knee joint is exposed to a strong twisting force. Deep squatting movements can also be a triggering factor. The risk increases with age as the meniscus becomes more fragile as a result of degenerative changes. Injuries to the medial meniscus are approximately four times more common than injuries to the lateral meniscus, and because the medial meniscus is connected to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), they are often injured at the same time.
Symptoms
- Pain in the inner or outer joint space, often like stabbing pain
- Locking or difficulty fully extending/flexing the knee joint
- Local swelling over the injured area
- Stiffness and pain after activity, especially when squatting
When should you seek medical attention?
In the event of knee locking, severe pain or persistent instability, the knee joint should always be examined by medical personnel.
Recommended protection & support
In the case of a meniscus injury, a compression knee brace can be very helpful as it both stabilises the joint and counteracts swelling. If instability occurs, a more stabilising knee brace with side-loading splints can provide extra control. The load should be minimised by avoiding deep bending and rotations in the knee joint. To regain strength and function, rehabilitation with individually adapted exercises with a physiotherapist is an important part of the treatment. See all our products for the knee and knee joint here.
About our Injury Guide – quick guidance in case of complaints
In our Injury Guide, you will receive clear and easy-to-understand information about common injuries, how they occur and what symptoms usually occur. You will also receive recommendations on which protection and aids can relieve your discomfort and help you further in your rehabilitation. All information is based on expert knowledge from our licensed physiotherapist.
For more information about the knee, you can read more in the Injury Guide Knee. You can also go to the Injury Guide main page to read about other injuries and symptoms.
Related injuries:
- Anterior cruciate ligament injury
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFSS)
- Runner's knee
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Knee pain
Find the right protection for your needs
There are several ways to find the right product on our website. For a more personalized selection, you can use our filters and sort by injury, body part or sport. You can also get help from our AI assistant Eir, who is trained on all the content on our website and can help you with product recommendations, fit questions and order-related concerns – 24/7. If you would rather speak directly to our licensed physiotherapist, Ida, you can reach her via email or phone for personal advice and support in your product selection.
