The knee cartilage tear where, for most people over forty, rehabilitation matches surgery — and costs a knee less.
The menisci are two wedges of cartilage that cushion and stabilise the knee. Tears happen traumatically in sport, and degeneratively with age — and the two behave very differently. Degenerative tears are extremely common in people with no knee pain at all.
Settle the irritation, restore full range and quadriceps activation, then build strength progressively. For degenerative tears in particular the evidence is strong that a structured exercise program produces outcomes comparable to arthroscopic surgery — and you keep your meniscus.
Three months of consistent work is a fair expectation for a degenerative tear. Traumatic tears in younger athletes may need a surgical opinion, and we will say so.
Only the ones that make sense for this problem — listing all three on every page would be advertising, not information.
For degenerative meniscal tears, multiple trials have found arthroscopy no better than exercise therapy or placebo surgery. For a locked knee, or a traumatic tear in a young athlete, a surgical opinion is appropriate.
Yes, and it matters. A knee that genuinely locks and cannot be straightened may have a displaced fragment, and that is one of the cases where surgery is indicated. Tell us if that is happening.
Appropriate loading does not propagate degenerative tears, and it is what restores the strength the joint needs. The dose is what we manage.
Not sure this is what you have? That is exactly what an assessment is for — and if it turns out to be something else, we will tell you.
Related: Knee osteoarthritis · ACL rehabilitation · Physiotherapy at Forge West End
No referral is needed for a private appointment. Bring one only if you are claiming through Medicare, DVA, WorkCover or insurance.
Unit 4, 249 Montague Road — a short run from South Brisbane, Highgate Hill, Dutton Park, Woolloongabba and South Bank, and from the CBD across the river.
Can’t get to the clinic? We also offer physiotherapy home visits across the same area, with travel included in the fee.
Book your assessment at Forge West End and start a plan built around your goals — not a generic exercise sheet.
Unit 4, 249 Montague Road, West End QLD 4101 · No referral needed for a private appointment · HICAPS on site
