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Will Walking on a Torn Meniscus Make It Worse?

Torn Meniscus

The meniscus is a form of cartilage that lies between the femur [1] and tibia [2] in the knee joint. The meniscus acts as a shock absorber, it gives stability and comfort to the knee joint while walking.

In some cases, when the meniscus is torn it could have several clinical significance on the knee joint [3]. The meniscus can be torn when the knee forcefully twists when bent. Twisting of the meniscus can lead to several mechanical symptoms such as catching, locking and clicking.

There is inadequate blood supply to the knee joint, so it is unable to heal on its own. In some cases tearing of the meniscus may cause no severe harm or swelling. The pain can be serious enough to impede certain movements such as walking, running or squatting.

Most people think surgery is done to reduce the tearing. However, the essence of surgery is to trim the tear, to decrease any form of pain or discomfort. In some situations, walking can exacerbate the pain. Avoiding movement can decrease the strength of the cartilage and muscles in the leg hereby decreasing the chances of recovery.