I tore my lateral meniscus this year because I play like I think I’m 21 ( I’m not- I’m 42!) Yes, it hurt, it was swollen and I felt like an idiot for pushing myself so hard. I did a lot of physio and therapy and everything I was supposed to. The Canadian long drive championships were 4 weeks away, and I did not have enough time to repair it and recover in time. Thankfully I found the Bauerfeind Genutrain S brace. The brace gave me enough compression and knee joint stability with its compression knit technology and dual plastic hinges, which decreased my tracking issues in half! Be fully aware that bracing is a band aid solution, and the best option is always to strengthen and fix the underlying issue. Given that I had to continue to compete at an elite level, I needed something to give me the confidence to keep swinging out of my shoes and not hurt myself more.
-Fareen Samji
Meniscal tears are a common injury of the knee. The meniscus are c-shaped discs that are designed to add a cushioning layer inside the knee joint. A torn meniscus can alter the way the knee joint functions, and can be painful.
Signs and symptoms of a torn meniscus:
- Instability or sensation of giving way
- swelling
- pain with range of motion
- decreased range of motion
- any clicking or catching inside the joint
Treatment
Diagnostic imaging is usually needed in order to properly diagnose any meniscal tear. Depending on the severity of the tear, rest may be all you need. If there is any clicking or decreased range of motion at the joint or pain with movement, then an orthopedic surgeon will arthroscopically scope the knee and repair or remove any damaged portion of the meniscus. In which case the healing process is that much longer of a timeline.
Brace
Depending on the severity of the tear, the Bauerfeind Genutrain S and the custom Bledsoe Z12 brace are great. The genutrain S will act on minor meniscus tears and the Z12 will act on more severe tears.