Knee injuries are especially common in tae kwon do, a popular form of the martial arts. One reason is because this fighting method emphasizes spinning kicks, which can put a lot of strain on your knees. A typical injury suffered by practitioners of tae kwon do is a torn meniscus. The meniscus is a cushion made of cartilage inside the knee.
The Meniscus
The medial meniscus and lateral meniscus serve as pads or cushions between the tibia and the femur. Because they are both made of cartilaginous tissue, they can be torn by movements that twist or pivot the knee. The meniscus can also be torn by a hard contact, such as a kick to the knee. Symptoms of a torn meniscus include swelling of the knee, a clicking sound and a feeling that the knee has locked up.
Treatment
According to Dr. Vincent J. Muscarella, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania physician and seventh-degree black belt in tae kwon do, a meniscus tear should never be ignored or "toughed out," because this type of injury can cause ongoing damage. One result can be the need to eventually have joint replacement surgery. To prevent serious complications, your doctor may order an MRI, if appropriate. Arthroscopic surgery may be required in some cases.
Recovery
According Dr. Benjamin Rush, a Marietta, Ohio chiropractor and a fifth-degree tae kwon do black belt, you can shorten the recovery time from a meniscus tear by exercising the uninjured leg. This is due to something called neurologic crossover, a phenomenon in which the brain exercises some of the same neural pathways in both legs, even when only one leg is actually being exercised. In effect, carefully exercising the uninjured leg can provide a gentle workout for the injured leg at the same time.
Prevention
To prevent a meniscus tear from happening in the first place, make sure to warm up with stretching exercises before practicing tae kwon do. Also be aware of your own skill level and physical development, and do not attempt difficult techniques that are well above your current tae kwon do rank. Exercises that make the knees stronger are particularly helpful.
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