Discoid Knee Exercises

Discoid meniscus is a type of knee condition affecting the tendons around the knee, and describes an abnormal tendon shape. Discoid meniscus affects about 1 percent of the population, and although severe cases of discoid knee require corrective surgery, many people experience only mild discomfort as a result of discoid meniscus and find that some simple knee exercises for strengthening the muscles around the knee prevent pain and injury.

Balancing the Muscles

• Knee exercises can be helpful for discoid knee because the muscles around the knee absorb shock, preventing pressure and strain on the joint. Muscle-building exercises, then, may be recommended by a physical therapist for individuals recovering from discoid meniscus surgery or for people with discoid meniscus who do not require surgery. The muscles targeted by discoid knee exercises should be the quadriceps and the hamstrings. A physical therapist can evaluate muscle imbalance and direct patients to use specific knee exercises to correct any imbalance that may be affecting the alignment of the knee.

Strength and Flexibility

• In addition to building muscle, people with discoid meniscus should focus attention on increasing the flexibility of the muscles in the leg, since muscle-strengthening alone may result in a stiff joint and will not improve the range of motion of a discoid knee. Discoid knee stretches should include the quadriceps, which you can stretch by bending the knee and holding the ankle at hip level; the hamstrings, which you can stretch by standing with one leg bent and one leg behind you and increasing the bend in the front knee to stretch the hamstring of the back leg; and the calves, which you can stretch by standing on a step with just your toes, pressing downward with the heels.

Gradually Increasing Intensity

• Increasing the intensity of knee exercises is essential to avoiding injury to the discoid knee. Whether you are recovering from surgery or implementing a new knee-strengthening program as an alternative for surgery, always move gradually from basic exercises to those requiring more strength. You may choose to gradually add ankle weights to some exercises, or to incorporate low-impact aerobic exercises such as exercise biking or fast-walking. People with discoid meniscus should avoid jogging and running if possible because of the high level of shock absorbed by the knee in the mechanics of running.

  Basic knee exercises include seated quadriceps contractions, in which you sit in a chair and straighten one leg at a time; lying-down leg lifts, in which you lie on your back with legs straight and lift one leg at a time; and hamstring contractions, in which you sit or lie down and tighten the hamstring muscle without moving the leg. More advanced knee exercises include knee dips and partial squats from a standing position; hamstring leg lifts from a position lying on your stomach, lifting the straight legs up several inches with the other leg crossed over it at the ankle; and step-ups, stepping up onto a stair or other raised surface and alternating the leading leg.