Highly physical sports are demanding and brutal on an athlete’s body. Aside from the huge amount of stress that a player undergoes in games over a long season, he still has to sacrifice himself to rigorous training between match days and during the offseason. Even the cyclists in events such as the Tour de France are prone to overuse injuries on the knee.

This routine can ultimately take its toll on an athlete’s body. Even though these players have awesome physiques and are trained to withstand brute force or physical challenges, there is still the danger of wear and tear or the occasional injury. Sprains and pulled muscles are quite typical and can be easily overcome especially with new methods available. However, a gruesome injury may be a totally different story because it can define an athlete’s career.

Knee injuries are nothing new. They are fairly common in sports, especially in team games where contact is at a maximum. Torn ligaments – ACL, MCL, and LCL – and meniscus are injuries which can derail an otherwise budding career.

However, it is not only athletes that suffer from knee injuries. Even the ordinary person is subjected to wear and tear, or an accidental twisted knee. A freak meniscus injury can be a big problem for working people, for example, because this can be painful and bothersome.

Torn meniscus can be debilitating especially if not taken care of properly. The good thing is that they may not require surgery depending on the severity. Though most knee problems will require surgical procedures, a meniscus tear is one that can be treated conservatively with the help of chiropractic methods and physical therapy.

Since the meniscus acts as a cushion, it is rather tough and spongy. Most people with meniscus injuries can walk and move around pain-free, but others experience discomfort and pain. For a conservative approach, treatment starts with icing the area to prevent swelling and reduce pressure behind the knee. Rehabilitation and chiropractic practices will consist of stretching exercises to increase the muscles surrounding the knee, specifically the quadriceps, hamstrings and calves.

The knee is then submitted to a familiarisation stage where it is reintroduced to its normal range of motions. Keep in mind that everything must be done at a pace, so as not to aggravate the injury, as delicate as it is. Strengthening the knee is then given emphasis to slowly work it to withstand everyday stress.

Consulting with a chiropractor to carry out this programme is vital in recovery since they are more familiar with the body’s anatomy and can adjust other deficiencies that may hamper the rehabilitation process.