One of the most common knee injuries is a torn meniscus, according to Mayoclinic.com. Your knees have two menisci, or pieces of cartilage that cushion the area between your shinbone and thigh. Meniscal tears are common in athletes but can occur in anyone at any age. A tear can happen when you twist your knee, especially while it's supporting your full weight. If you run before a torn meniscus has healed or when you have a lot of knee pain, you risk worsening the injury.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of a torn meniscus include pain, swelling, stiffness, locking of your knee or a feeling that it won't support your weight and an inability to move your knee as usual. If you experience symptoms of a knee injury when you run or during any other activity, see your doctor for an evaluation. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a piece of torn cartilage might loosen and lodge in your joint, causing your knee to pop or lock.
Treatment
The treatment of a torn meniscus depends on the seriousness of the injury and its location, and can be surgical or nonsurgical. According to AAOS, treatment for a small tear is most often nonsurgical. Nonsurgical treatment involves rest, ice, compression and elevation. Take a break from running and other types of exercise and apply cold packs to your affected knee for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. To prevent additional swelling and reduce current swelling, wear an elastic compression bandage on your knee and elevate your injured knee above heart level when you rest.
Running
Avoid any activity that intensifies knee pain, according to MayoClinic.com. It might also be necessary to use crutches to avoid placing weight on your knee. Resume or continue a running regimen under the direction of your doctor. Running before a meniscal tear heals may worsen the injury. Running may also cause you to fall or twist your knee, especially if you run on an uneven terrain.
Rehabilitation and Recovery
When your injury heals, either following surgery or conservative home treatment, your doctor will probably prescribe gentle exercises to restore strength and mobility. You can do these exercises at home or through physical therapy. According to AAOS, proper treatment and rehabilitation of meniscal tears usually allows individuals to return to normal physical activities after healing occurs.
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