Cartilage Damage

The meniscus is a C-shaped cartilage that curves within your knee joint. Meniscus injuries involve tears in the cartilage, which can occur in various places and configurations. Usually you'll have pain and mild to moderate swelling that develops over 24 to 48 hours.

Occasionally, a lengthwise tear flips into the knee joint instead of staying around the joint's edge. A flap of the torn cartilage can interfere with your knee movement and cause your knee joint to lock. Meniscal injuries that cause locking of your knee should be surgically treated. Meniscal tears that don't cause locking, including those of a degenerative nature, can usually be managed nonsurgically.

This will involve the application of R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) to your injured knee to provide appropriate relief. Once pain has subsided, exercises are required to increase your range of movement, balance and to maintain quadriceps strength. Gently exercise to maintain quadriceps strength. KNEEHAB is designed specifically for this purpose and when combined with physical therapy exercises this will optimise your rehabilitation, restoring your strength and joint movement with maximum control.

In the event of more severe meniscal tears arthroscopic surgical procedures may be necessary to repair the lesion. The aim of surgery is to preserve as much of the meniscus cartilage as possible. The procedure itself will normally involve stitching of the torn cartilage. Following surgery a rehabilitative exercise program will be outlined for the patient, which may include strengthening and balance training. Full co-operation with the rehabilitative technique will be necessary to maximise recovery.

The quadriceps muscle is the most important stabilizer of the knee. After meniscus injuries the resultant pain and swelling often cause disuse, which leads to muscle weakness. After an initial period of pain relief treatment and keeping the knee still, knee strengthening and stretching exercises should be done. An essential component of your rehabilitation post injury is strengthening of the quadriceps muscle and KNEEHAB® is ideal for this purpose.

KNEEHAB® is an innovative and clinically proven, garment-based Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) device. It is designed specifically to treat quadriceps atrophy (thigh muscle wastage) that arises from being unable to exercise due to you meniscus damage. It re-educates the muscle by sending gentle electrical pulses through pads placed on the surface of the skin. This electrical stimulation applied to the motor nerve re-educates and strengthens the quadriceps muscle through cycles of contraction and relaxation.

KNEEHAB® has been designed solely for the relief of a severe abnormality or severe injury.