This is one of the most common knee injuries. Meniscus is a piece of cartilage in your knee that cushions and stabilizes the joint, thus protecting your bones from wear and tear. Any activity that causes you to forcefully twist or rotate your knee, can lead to a torn meniscus. Meniscus tears are quite common in contact sports like football, volleyball and skiing. This can also happen when a person changes direction suddenly while running.
The symptoms of a meniscus tear include:
• Swelling or stiffness
• Pain in the knee, especially when twisting or rotating your knee
• A tendency for your knee to get stuck or lock up
• Difficulty straightening or bending the leg
You can prevent knee injuries by doing exercises that strengthen your leg muscles which can help stabilize and protect your knee joints. It's important to start slowly and then increase your intensity gradually. Make it a point to use proper protective gear if you participate in recreational sports. Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain until the pain disappears.
If you're unable to move your knee like you usually do and experience pain and swelling, contact your doctor at the earliest!