If you’ve ever felt a “pop” in your knee followed by stiffness or the sensation that your leg might give out, you’re not alone. Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries we see at RegenRx.
For years, the standard answer was surgery—simply cutting out the damaged piece. However, we now know that preserving your meniscus is vital for long-term joint health. In this post, we’ll explore what a meniscus tear really is and why regenerative medicine is changing the way we heal.
What Exactly is a Meniscus?
Think of your knee like a high-performance vehicle. Your meniscus is the shock absorber. Each knee has two C-shaped wedges of fibrocartilage (the medial and lateral meniscus) that sit between your thigh bone and shin bone. They distribute weight, stabilize the joint, and protect your cartilage from wearing down.
How Tears Happen
Meniscus injuries generally fall into two categories:
- Acute Traumatic Tears: These often happen during sports. A sudden twist or pivot while the foot is planted can cause the tissue to tear.
- Degenerative Tears: As we age, the meniscus becomes more brittle. Something as simple as squatting down to garden or stepping off a curb can cause a tear in a weakened meniscus.