Greetings, first time post here for me. So 6 Weeks ago I was getting up off the ground with a squat and had a pop with pain then swelling in my knee. An MRI confirmed that I had a horizontal tear to my medial meniscus. 4 weeks out I saw a surgeon and he recommended a repair. Several days after that my symptoms improved drastically. Almost no more stiffness and only occasional pain especially after sitting or commuting. Also If I twist or turn a certain way, my knee will “catch” and there’s some stiffness and pain but I can remedy it almost immediately by doing a standing quad stretch and feel it pop back. So I cancelled my surgery.
Previous to the injury I was training for a mountain ultramarathon, and had not done any barbell strength training (only some gpp training at home) for several months. I’ve had great success a couple years ago using a SSLP to fix knee issues and I’m hoping to do the same this time. I have been doing some goblet squats at home with very little pain in the knee.
Have you seen a meniscus tear of this nature improve with barbell training? And how would you recommend I move that way?
Thanks for your post - I’ve had a similar injury (torn meniscus) in early April, diagnosed via MRI etc. The doctor/surgeon I saw wasn’t as explicit in recommending surgery, but wasn’t exactly proactive either in helping me fix the problem (in sum, his recommendation was “see if it gets better in the next month or so, and come back if it doesn’t”).
I’m curious if you’ve done anything in the way of barbell exercise, and how it may (or may not be) improving?
@ Dr. Baraki - your second link (‘general approach to rehab’) is the same as the first, could you please post the intended link? Also, can you advise on if the knee rehab template would be appropriate for such an injury (torn meniscus).
Knee rehab template - potentially, although the template is primarily designed for folks dealing with labels such as patellofemoral pain syndrome, quad tendinopathy, or patellar tendinopathy. We’d also be happy to consult on your case and provide guidance: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F…ilUWA/viewform
Thank you Austin and Michael. This is actually my first time seeing your reply, sorry! Well for June and July I really didn’t try to do much of anything in terms of rehab or strengthening. I tried a few times but really hate single leg work and with gyms closed I kinda just went on with normal life. I work a relatively physical job, that requires some kneeling/sitting and standing constantly and I feel in some ways its done it part in helping me. Cesar, since I’ve found squatting doesn’t irritate it, only twisting with my foot planted, I started a LP a couple weeks ago and am already squatting 185 and DL 285 with no issues. I actually have noticed in the two weeks a reduction in the amounts of flare ups as well as less lingering pain once I do tweak it.
I’ve torn my knee a few times according to the MRI. 1st one I was back training in about 2 months at maybe 90%. It hyperextended the first time and if it got close to hyperextension then it didn’t like that. The second time took a lot longer. There’s different treatments you can do to heal a meniscus tear without surgery. And I would try those before surgery such as rehab since the studies for many don’t look good. The whole leg is affected when that happens because you start limping and everything gets out of balance, that’s what happened to me anyways. Inner muscles, hamstring and groin got tight.
One thing I noticed lately that’s helped is doing deep body weight squats. Like I’ll sink all the way done, relax and then come up.
@lip420 I appreciate the input and willingness to share your story and help. However, reviewing that site I really can’t tell what the individual is selling and whether the recommendations fall in line with current evidence based recommendations generally speaking or for the OP. Some of the material appears suspect. Typically conservative management in these scenarios is centered around individual specific education and then a game plan focused on active management to return their desired activities.