Motion Specific Release

The menisci are two crescent-shaped structures within the knee that play an important role in load distribution, joint stability, shock absorption, and movement. Their name comes from the Greek word for “crescent,” reflecting their characteristic shape.

Diagnosing a meniscal injury requires more than identifying pain along the knee joint line or finding a tear on an MRI. The clinical significance of a meniscal lesion depends on the mechanism of injury, symptoms, physical examination, associated injuries, functional limitations, and, when appropriate, imaging findings.

Exercise-based rehabilitation forms the foundation of nonoperative management for most degenerative meniscal lesions and can also be appropriate for selected traumatic tears. Manual therapy may be incorporated as an adjunct when it helps address pain, mobility restrictions, or other factors limiting rehabilitation, but it should support rather than replace progressive exercise and functional loading.