For Torn Meniscus, Try Exercise Before Surgery

Many doctors, mainly orthopedic surgeons, would like us to think that surgical repair is the best fix for a torn meniscus, and for some particularly large tears, that may be true. But now comes a study from orthopedic surgeons at Martina Hansens Hospital in Sandvika, Norway, which tracked outcomes for 140 meniscal tear patients, half of whom had surgery and half of whom did knee exercises three times a week for three months. HealthDay reports that after two years, pain, sports and recreation function, and knee-related quality of life were similar for both groups.