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In order to recover the meniscus, it is important to undergo physical therapy that should be done through exercises and the use of equipment that help in relieving pain and reducing swelling, in addition to performing specific physical therapy techniques that increase knee mobility and ensure a greater range of motion this articulation.
After about 2 months of treatment, an assessment is made by the physiotherapist or orthopedist in order to check whether the person is still in pain or if there is movement limitation. If it exists, other physiotherapy exercises or other treatment techniques may be indicated to promote recovery from the injury.
Some physical therapy exercise options that can be indicated for meniscus recovery are:
- Bend and stretch your leg while lying on your back: 3 sets of 60 times;
- Support the weight of the body itself, gently supporting the body weight on the affected leg, with the aid of crutches or using the back of a cedar tree;
- Gently move the patella from side to side and from top to bottom;
- About 5 minutes of thigh massage a day;
- Contract the thigh muscle with the leg straight, 20 times in a row;
- Exercises in the pool like walking in the water for 5 to 10 minutes;
- Balance exercises initially with nothing and then with one foot on a half-empty ball, for example;
- Exercises for legs with elastic bands and then with weights, in 3 sets of 20 repetitions;
- 15 minutes on an exercise bike;
- Mini squats to the limit of pain, in 3 sets of 20 repetitions;
- Leg stretches to increase flexibility.
When the person no longer feels pain, but cannot bend the knee completely, the exercises should have this objective. Thus, a good exercise is to do squats, increasing the degree of knee flexion, the goal may be to try to squat as much as possible, until you can sit on your heels.
At the end of each session it may be useful to place an ice pack on the knee for 15 minutes to deflate the area or prevent it from swelling. Proprioceptive exercises are also indicated at the end of the treatment, when the person is closer to healing.
Check out in the video below some exercises that can also be performed to strengthen the thighs and legs and promote the recovery of the meniscus:
Recovery time
The treatment time varies from one person to another and your general health status and whether you can perform physical therapy daily or not, however a good recovery is expected in about 4 to 5 months, but many people need about 6 months to recover completely.
When treatment with physiotherapy is not enough to eliminate pain, and the person is able to carry out their daily activities normally, it may be indicated to have surgery to remove the meniscus, for example. Understand how meniscus surgery is performed.
Other physiotherapy treatments
Electrotherapy devices can also be indicated for pain relief and to facilitate healing, leaving the physiotherapist the most correct choice. Voltages, ultrasound, laser or microcurrents, for example, can be used. Sessions are usually divided so that there is time for passive knee mobilization, other manual therapy techniques, and exercises.
Exercises can also be performed inside a pool with warm water, known as hydrokinesiotherapy. These are especially indicated when the person is overweight, because in the water it is easier to perform the exercises properly, without pain.