Exercise can often replace knee surgery for injured menisci

Knee injuries can be very painful and debilitating. Surgery is a costly and generally upsetting option for treating many type of knee injuries. An alternative option to surgery in many instances has been found to be a new form of exercise therapy reports the University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine. Researchers say knee surgery could be avoided in three out of four people with exercise therapy. This is significant since injury to the menisci, which is the cartilaginous discs within the knee joint, can be very painful when running, and can lead to the knee giving way or locking. Such knee injuries can keep people from exercising and going to work. Orthopaedic surgeon Nina Jullum Kise, MD who was in charge of the study says in regard to symptoms and improved functioning there was no difference between the outcomes for meniscus injuries between surgery and exercise. And with exercise there was improved muscle strength. This study has been published in BMJ. The researchers say in young people with acute injuries surgery is often needed. It has been concluded in middle aged patients with degenerative meniscal tear and no definitive radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis supervised exercise therapy should be considered as a treatment option. Clearly exercise is preferable to surgery whenever possible.