What Are the Causes of Meniscal Tears?

The inner and outer meniscus of the knee provide critical cushioning which can be quite painful when damaged. A number of factors frequently contribute to the buildup of the vulnerability, which then manifests as a tear. Know what can cause a tear to help avoid significant discomfort that can stop you from running or even walking properly when fully damaged. The same knowledge also helps in preventing the damage from occurring again.

The Meniscus

• At the end of the femur bone and at the top of the tibia and fibula bones exists cartilage material. This material sits on the inside and the outside areas of the knee assembly. As the knee is used, the meniscus cartilage provides cushioning so that the two sets of bone don't actually impact or grind against each other. Meniscus cartilage exists in both knees and, when young, most people don't notice any issues with their knees. As age progresses, however, the meniscus material can wear down from, making it fragile.

Age

• As we get older our bodies begin to develop vulnerabilities. The parts still work, but they become weaker and more prone to injury; the knee meniscus areas are no exception. The cartilage all over the body begins to get thinner with time. When this thin material becomes too weak, it can be bruised or torn by the knee area bones when you exert significant torque, twisting or impact pressure.

Diet

• What you consume, particularly liquids, results in a significant impact on the condition of your knees over time. Not drinking enough water and juices will reduce the amount of liquidity and lubrication in the knee area. As the body dehydrates, the knee assembly can weaken and expose the meniscus cartilage to damage. Insufficient diary intake can also contribute to a weaker state. As the knee bones get weaker, their ability to produce cartilage slows considerably. Again, vulnerabilities grow that can lead to impact and structural damage.

Exercise

• Physical fitness and its maintenance can both provide benefits in strength and be the cause of damage. For people who exercise regularly, meniscus integrity will likely be better than that of an average person. However, in extreme athletes, even cartilage can wear down similar to tires on a car. Over time, it gets too much abuse to retain a cushion effect. When a person first feels pain in the knee from running or twisting, it's time to stop. Continued use will likely lead to a much more serious injury and tear. The knee needs to be restrengthened without impact. Alternative exercises should be performed until the knee recovers.

Getting Back In

• Another frequent cause of knee damage to the meniscus tends to be a sudden change into exercise after years of inactivity. The body is not yet conditioned to take on the stress and strain of repetitive impact again, especially in a person who is overweight. The result tends to be a failure in the knee from sudden, new load demands and twisting that hasn't been expected for years. When starting exercise again, stick with low-impact exercises and equipment for the first three to six months until sufficient body conditioning has occurred.