Definition: The meniscus are a small, "c" shaped pieces of cartilage that act as a cushions in the knee joint. They sit between the thigh bone (femur) and the tibia (shin bone), one on the outside (lateral meniscus) and one on the inside of the knee (medial meniscus).
These crescent shaped pieces of cartilage help absorb weight within the knee during impact sports as well as provide stability during movement.
The meniscus can tear during activities that forcefully rotate the knee during weight bearing. A partial or total tear of a meniscus sometimes occurs if an athlete quickly twists or rotates the upper leg while the foot is firmly planted. This often occurs in field sports such as soccer and football.
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