Meniscus Tear Patient Education

Increase patient engagement in and out of the clinic with MedBridge's interactive videos and high-quality handouts. Explore a sample of our meniscus injury patient education resources below.

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Explaining Meniscus Injuries

The meniscus cushions the knee joint, and keeps the bones from rubbing against each other. The meniscus can be injured during a bending and twisting motion, such as the impact from a sports tackle or a car accident.

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An Integrated Approach is Always the Winner

by Terry Malone, PT, EdD, ATC, FAPTA

We greatly appreciate the interrelation of the hip and thigh and that unfortunately the body will avoid using some musculature when allowed to just function (quadriceps avoidance is the common term).

Data now says an integrated approach is required. So we really need to do isolated strengthening – open chain knee extension (sometimes this may be somewhat range specific). Our recommendations are as follows:

  1. Perform a terminal extension with what is a maximal load from 30 degrees to full extension.
  2. Perform another terminal extension, which will be a much larger load, from 90 degrees to 30 (two sets of 10 repetitions).
  3. Integrate the above with isometric wall holds at approximately 30-45 degrees (hold as long as possible, walk around a short time and repeat; do this 3 times daily).
  4. Include controlled lunges/squats and/or leg press allowing the full lower chain to be active.

With a meniscus patient, we would use the 90-30 degree open chain and avoid terminal extension.

Remember that an integrated approach has always been the winner!

3 Recommended Knee Exercises

The following exercises have been selected to accompany Terry Malone's recommendations for knee rehabilitation.

Build Home Exercise Programs

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Seated Knee Extension with Anchored Resistance

Wall Quarter Squat

Standard Lunge


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