Knee meniscal tear physiotherapy

Written by Zita Sham, Fairuuz Saleh and Shiv Mohan Banka, Principal Physiotherapists at Phoenix Rehab.Clinically reviewed by Louise Yow, Principal Physiotherapist and Director, AHPC A1300363H.Last reviewed 28 September 2026.

Meniscal tears are common injuries to the cartilage of the knee that can affect athletes and non-athletes alike.

These meniscal tears can be either acute (meaning they happen as a result of a particular movement or accident) or degenerative (meaning they happen over time).

Our senior physiotherapists can help you heal from a meniscal tear and improve your strength and movement. If surgery is required, your physical therapist can help you prepare for the procedure and recover following surgery.

WHAT IS A MENISCAL TEAR?

The meniscus is a cartilage disc that cushions your knee.

Each of your knees has two menisci (plural of meniscus); one on the inner (medial) part of the knee, and the other on the outer (lateral) part of the knee.

Together, they

• absorb shock
• stabilize the knee joint.

Meniscal tears can be classified in two ways: acute or degenerative.

• An acute meniscal tear typically is caused by twisting or turning quickly on a bent knee, often with the foot planted on the ground. This mechanism of injury often produces related injuries, such as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.
• Degenerative meniscal tears occur over time, due to repetitive stress being put on the knee, such as in a job or sport that requires a lot of squatting.

WHAT DOES A MENISCUS TEAR FEEL LIKE?

When you tear the meniscus, you might experience:

• A sharp, intense pain in the knee area
• A “pop” or a tearing sensation in the knee area (acute injury)
• Swelling within the first 24 hours of injury
• Difficulty walking or going up or down stairs because of pain or a “catching or locking” sensation in the knee (knee locking)
• Difficulty straightening or bending the knee fully.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

Our senior physiotherapist will:

• Conduct a thorough evaluation that includes a detailed review of your injury, symptoms, and health history.
• Perform special tests to measure the range of motion (amount of movement) in your knee and determine which specific movements and positions increase your symptoms.
• Use a series of tests that apply pressure to the meniscus to determine whether it appears to be damaged.

The results of these tests may indicate the need for further diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a referral to an orthopedic surgeon for consultation.

HOW OUR SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CAN HELP YOU

With effective knee physiotherapy, meniscal tears can often be managed without surgery.

A short course of treatment provided by our senior physiotherapists can help determine whether your knee will recover without surgery. We can help control pain and swelling in the knee area and work with you to improve full strength and mobility to your knee.

Your knee physiotherapy treatments may include:

Manual therapy

We may apply manual therapy (hands-on treatment) that may include

• massage
• stretching
• joint mobilization

to help reduce swelling and reduce joint stiffness, and rebuild muscle function around the knee.

Icing

We will apply cold therapy to the painful knee to help control any pain and swelling, and may instruct you to apply icing at home. Swelling is an important “guide” during your rehabilitation and can indicate your level of ability and recovery.

If you experience an increase in swelling, we will modify your treatment program or activity level to ensure your safest, most effective recovery.

Compression

We may recommend the use of compression bandages, stockings, or pumps to assist in the reduction of edema (swelling).

We may include them as part of your regular treatments, and teach you and your family how to use them at home.

NMES

We may use a treatment called neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). NMES uses electrical current to gently stimulate/contract the muscles around your knee to help improve their strength.

Assistive devices

It may be necessary to use assistive devices such as crutches, a cane, or a walker in the short term.

We will make recommendations about which device is best for you, and instruct you in how to use it properly.

Strengthening exercises

We will design exercises to build and maintain your strength during recovery and help improve full movement to the knee. You will be given a home program of exercises that are specific to your condition.

Strengthening the muscles around the knee and throughout the leg helps ease pressure on the healing knee tissue.

If surgery Is required

Patients with more serious meniscal tears, or those who don’t respond to a course of physical therapy, may need corrective knee surgery to repair the injured knee.

Surgically removing the torn cartilage (a procedure called a meniscectomy) usually is a simple procedure that requires a course of physical therapy treatment following surgery.

Many people are able to return to their previous level of activity, including sports, after approximately 4-6 months of knee physiotherapy treatment.

Meniscus removal

Following a simple meniscectomy, your physiotherapy journey will likely be similar to that for non-surgical meniscal injuries. We may use cold therapy to relieve pain and reduce swelling, and will show you how to use these treatments at home.

The focus of your physiotherapy treatment will be on helping you get your strength and movement back, through a series of exercises performed in the clinic and at home, as well as with hands-on treatment (manual therapy).

Initially, it is likely that you will need to use crutches or a cane for walking. We will help guide you in gradually placing your weight on the knee to stand or walk, to allow the meniscus and other tissues in the knee joint to slowly adjust to increased pressure.

Meniscus repair

Sometimes your knee orthopedic surgeon will decide that the torn meniscus can be repaired instead of removed. Research studies show that if a meniscal repair is possible, it can reduce the risk of arthritis developing later in life.

  
 
 
 
  
 
Excellent5.0543 reviews
 
5.0
 
Excellent543 reviews
 
 Write a review 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Micah 
 
33 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
Amazing experience with Phoenix Rehab, was assisted by Mavis. She’s very kind and professional and did thorough check on my wrist. I feel very comfortable during the process.

I went in for thermoplastic splint, and everything went smoothly. She was able to address my needs on my left wrist sprain.

They were prompt with appointment process and inquiry. Also the clinic is very close to Tanjong Pagar MRT. I highly recommend!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Chiky Phan 
 
37 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
Fist time doing ultrasound for my tennis elbow!! Let’s hope it gets better the next few weeks!! Thank Mavis Tham!!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 XIN WANG 
 
54 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
Great treatment from my therapist. My painful wrist felt a lot of relief after the session. I’m glad I can slowly get back to doing my usual activities without constant pain.
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Abby Lee 
 
70 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
Very helpful and friendly !
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 雪梅Cui 
 
108 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
The masseur is very professional and provides excellent service ，yati is very good!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Tra Nguyen 
 
199 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
I wasn’t able to close my fingers due to an injury. Nurul at Phoenix Rehab has helped me tremendously with my recovery process. I have been able to resume my daily activities and exercises after only a few sessions. Nurul has been very professional and positive throughout the entire process. Thank you so much for your help!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Juzer K 
 
237 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
Huge shoutout to Yuna Zhang from Phoenix Rehab for helping in my recovery from golfer’s elbow 🙌

I walked in with persistent elbow pain that was affecting workouts and everyday tasks, and Yuna immediately made me feel confident I was in the right hands. She took the time to properly assess my condition, explain the root cause, and tailor a treatment plan to my specific needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach.

What I really appreciated was how personalised every session felt. The exercises she gave me were practical, easy to follow, and actually worked. Within a short time, the pain reduced significantly and my strength and mobility improved much faster than I expected.

On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable and affordable, which made committing to recovery much easier.

Professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring — highly recommend Yuna at Phoenix Rehab if you’re dealing with hand-related sports injuries 💪
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Fazal Hanafi Chaudhry 
 
321 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
I enjoy coming to Phoenix rehab as they offer a wide variety of services. I had a finger accident and was working with a very experienced hand therapist. Place is clean and comfortable.  Staff were friendly and appointment was on time
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Stella Yam 
 
462 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
Very good
  
 
 
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Juliana 
 
464 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
+0
Have both physio n Tcm visits here, highly recommend!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Verified by Trustindex  
Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
 
 
 
 
 

Rehabilitation following a meniscal repair is slower and more extensive than with meniscal removal, because the repaired tissue must be protected while it is healing.

The type of surgical technique performed, the extent of your injury, and the preferences of the surgeon often determine how quickly you will be able to put weight on your leg, stop using crutches, and return to your previous activities.

Following surgery for meniscal repair, our senior physiotherapist will:

• Help you control pain and swelling
• Guide you through progressive reloading of weight to the knee to allow the cartilage to slowly adjust to increased compressive stress and pressure
• Help improve your knee and leg range of motion
• Teach you exercises to help improve your muscle strength.

Return to Activity

Whether your torn meniscus recovered on its own or required surgery, we will play an important role in helping you return to your previous activities.

We will help you learn to walk without favoring the leg and perform activities like going up and down stairs with ease.

Return to work

If you have a physically demanding job or lifestyle, we can help you return to these activities and improve how you perform them.

Return to sport

If you are an athlete or active in sports and activities, you may need a more extensive course of knee physiotherapy. We will help you fully improve your

• strength
• endurance
• flexibility
• coordination

to help maximize your return to sports and prevent reinjury.

Return to sport varies greatly from one person to the next and depends on the extent of the injury, the specific surgical procedure, the preference of the surgeon, and the type of sport.

Our senior physiotherapists in Phoenix Rehab will consider these factors when designing and adjusting your rehabilitation program, and will work closely with your surgeon to help decide when it is safe for you to return to sports and other activities.