My MRI Shows a Meniscus Tear — What Should I Do Now?
Fizyoterapist Aydın Ali · 6 September 2026 · 2 min read
Seeing the phrase "meniscus tear" on an MRI report immediately makes most people think of surgery. But the first step to take isn't about surgery: it's telling apart whether the knee is genuinely, mechanically locking.
What does "locking" actually mean?
Genuine locking is a fixed, recurring situation where the knee can't be moved past a certain point either into full extension or full flexion. Beyond that, a sense of "catching," "giving way," or an occasional feeling of "being locked" is often not genuine mechanical locking — it can be due to muscle-based guarding.
Why doesn't everyone need surgery?
There are a great many people with no complaint at all whose MRI shows a meniscus tear; especially after age 40, this finding becomes a normal, age-related one. That's why the decision is made based not on the tear itself in the image, but on how the knee actually behaves.
What is looked at in the first assessment?
- Is the knee genuinely locking, or is there just a temporary catching sensation?
- When and how quickly does swelling appear?
- What happens with stairs, squatting and turning movements?
- How long has the complaint lasted, is it getting worse?
How does rehabilitation proceed?
If there's no genuine locking, the programme is built on gradually strengthening the muscles around the knee and regaining the ability to load the knee safely. Progress is tracked over weeks through pain-free range of motion and strength measurements; "feeling good" alone isn't a sufficient criterion.
How does the surgery decision become clear?
Surgical assessment comes up for genuine mechanical locking, a complaint that doesn't resolve despite regular rehabilitation, or specific traumatic tears in a young, active person. This decision belongs to the orthopaedic surgeon; the physiotherapy assessment is a step that brings clarity before that decision.
When to see a physician without delay?
If the knee is genuinely locking, there's unbearable pain, or noticeable swelling, assessment shouldn't be delayed.
Fzt. Aydın Ali first assesses clients whose MRI shows a meniscus tear based on the knee's actual behaviour, clarifying early on when a worry about unnecessary surgery can be set aside.
