Understand the knee menisci, when rehabilitation is useful and why an acutely locked knee needs prompt assessment.
What is it?
The menisci are two cartilage pads that help spread load within the knee. A tear can follow a twisting injury or develop gradually with age. Meniscal changes on a scan are common and do not always cause pain.
- Pain near the joint line
- Swelling or stiffness
- Sometimes catching with movement
Assessment and diagnostic limits
Age-related meniscal changes and an acute twisting injury need different consideration. Joint-line pain or clicking alone does not establish a symptomatic tear: arthritis, ligament injury and other conditions may contribute. Examination and, when indicated, MRI are interpreted together, rather than treating every scan finding as the cause. Assessment guidance
How physiotherapy may help
Assess the whole knee
Check injury history, movement, swelling and whether the knee is truly locked.
Rebuild function
Progress strength, balance and everyday movement according to symptoms.
Return to demand
Gradually restore walking, work and sport-specific tasks, with reassessment if recovery stalls.
Everyday approach
For many degenerative, non-locking tears, exercise-based physiotherapy is a useful first approach. Long-term trial findings support it as an alternative to early partial meniscus surgery in that group.
What to keep in mind
Those findings do not apply to every acute traumatic tear, displaced tear or locked knee. Some injuries need early surgical assessment. Rehabilitation can improve function without proving that a tear has structurally healed.
General educational information, not a diagnosis or personal treatment plan. For an emergency in Australia, call 000.
Sources and further reading
Selected guidance and research; this brief guide is not an exhaustive evidence review.