Introduction
The menisci (moon-shaped corpuscles) are disc-shaped cartilages, of which there is one inside and one outside in each knee joint. The menisci increase the contact area between the thigh and the lower leg. Furthermore, they have a stabilizing function in the knee joint.
The fibrous cartilage of the menisci also has a high degree of elasticity, so that they act as “shock absorbers” between the upper and lower leg. Due to their position in the knee joint and their buffering function, the menisci are highly susceptible to pathological changes. On the one hand, certain sports such as soccer or tennis often cause an acute meniscus injury, the meniscus tear.
Meniscus irritation often occurs when the knee is abruptly stopped or turned, as in soccer or skiing. In addition, various causes can lead to a less dramatic meniscus irritation. Injuries more often affect the inner than the outer meniscus, as the latter is less mobile.
Causes
Meniscus irritation often occurs during sports. In addition to an acute injury, the menisci can also be permanently overloaded and become irritated. Affected by this are mainly sports where the knee joints are under heavy strain, such as soccer, running, tennis, skiing and many more.
Certain occupational groups also overstrain the menisci on a daily basis and thus cause them to become irritated. This is often the case with physically working people such as tilers or craftsmen in general. In addition, overweight is an important risk factor for the development of meniscus irritation, as the menisci have to carry and cushion almost the entire body weight in the knee joint. In addition, degenerative changes in the fibrous cartilage of the menisci occur in every person at an advanced age, which becomes symptomatic to varying degrees from person to person. Finally, meniscal irritation can also have a traumatic trigger, such as a fall on the knee.
Symptoms
Meniscus irritation becomes symptomatic mainly through pain. These occur mainly under stress and less frequently at rest. The pain is particularly severe when doing sports, climbing stairs or generally when running.
Often the symptoms begin during sports, such as a jerky movement while playing soccer or skiing. A feeling of instability in the knee joint can also occur. More severe courses or tears lead to swelling of the knee joint (effusion), as well as to reduced mobility. The effusion is caused by an inflammation caused by small tears, which leads to increased formation of synovial fluid.
