The menisci are cartilage discs that act as shock absorbers between the joint surfaces of the femur and tibia in the knee joints. By increasing the contact surface through the menisci, weight and shocks are evenly distributed and absorbed. The menisci also stabilize the knee joint.
If an injury to the meniscus makes surgery on the knee joint necessary, the meniscus may be sutured, partially or completely removed. The physiotherapeutic treatment after meniscus surgery is aimed at restoring the patient’s mobility and freedom from symptoms as quickly as possible. In addition, the development of future injuries should be prevented by specific exercises.
Contents of physiotherapy after meniscus surgery
With the beginning of the postoperative rehabilitation phase, decongestant measures such as manual lymph drainage are in the foreground. The lymphatic system is stimulated by various grip techniques. The swelling of the operated knee can thus be avoided and reduced.
Slight tensing exercises are performed for the calf and thigh muscles to stimulate the blood flow again and prevent thrombosis. Especially in the first days after the operation, gait training is also part of the physiotherapeutic plan, as patients are not yet allowed to put full weight on the damaged knee again, depending on the type of operation. It is also important to mobilize the kneecap and train for bending and stretching the knee joint.
The scar tissue should always be treated as well, in order to prevent adhesions and reduced elasticity. If the first phase of rehabilitation has progressed well, physiotherapy is now actively dedicated to the build-up training. The goals here are to achieve full mobility, full weight-bearing and improved coordination, so that the patient is free of pain and able to cope with everyday stress as quickly as possible.
All this is achieved through targeted strengthening, stretching and mobilization exercises, which are performed under the supervision of the therapist. The rehabilitation process depends on the type of meniscus surgery. Basically, the surgeon has three options for the operation: In physiotherapy, an individual rehabilitation program is developed for each patient to accelerate the healing process and achieve the best possible results.
Normally, this process takes 4-6 weeks, but can last for several months depending on the severity of the problem.
- Partial or complete removal of the meniscus
- Meniscus Suture
- Meniscus implant
In the case of (partial) meniscus removal, patients are usually allowed to put full weight on the affected knee immediately or after only a few days. This means that the return to light sports activities such as swimming or cycling is possible after only 3-6 weeks.
Full weight-bearing is usually possible as early as 6-8 weeks after the operation. With meniscal suturing, the rehabilitation process is longer, since the suture must first heal well. For this reason, a 3-6 week relief of the knee joint with crutches is necessary.
In addition, the patient wears a knee orthosis, which is intended to limit the movement of the joint, so that complete flexion and extension is not possible. From the 7th week onwards, the actual physiotherapy and medical training can begin. Sports activities are normally only possible again after 3-6 months. The rehabilitation process in this surgical procedure does not differ significantly from that of meniscal suturing. With a meniscus implant, only a longer relief phase of 6-8 weeks (instead of 3-6 weeks) at the beginning is necessary to relieve the newly formed tissue.
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