**Most meniscus tears come from one of two things: a twisting or pivoting force on a loaded knee, or cartilage that has thinned with age so that an everyday motion is enough to split it.**
Younger people usually tear the meniscus during sport, when the foot is planted and the body rotates, often alongside an ACL or MCL injury. After about age 40 the cartilage loses water and elasticity, so tears can start with something as ordinary as rising from a deep squat or stepping off a curb. Knee osteoarthritis, an earlier knee injury, and jobs with a lot of kneeling, squatting, or lifting all raise the odds. Strong hip and thigh muscles, a gradual build in training load, and good landing and pivoting technique reduce the twisting force the knee has to absorb. Pain with swelling that builds over a day, clicking, locking, or a knee that gives way is worth an in-person exam.
How to protect your knees
Common questions
What causes meniscus tear?
Meniscus tears come from two main routes. Traumatic tears happen when you twist or pivot on a planted foot, squat deeply, or take a direct blow, and they are common in soccer, basketball, and skiing. Degenerative tears happen when cartilage thins with age, so an ordinary motion like standing up from a squat is enough to split it. Risk goes up with age over 40, prior knee injury, knee osteoarthritis, work that involves kneeling or heavy lifting, and weak hip and thigh muscles. Locking, catching, swelling that builds over a day, or a knee that gives way should be checked by a clinician.