Meniscus Injury
A meniscus injury is a tear of the shock-absorbing cartilage in your knee, often causing pain, swelling, clicking or locking. We assess the injury and guide your recovery with hands-on treatment and targeted rehabilitation at our Marple clinic.

Understanding Your Condition
The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage in your knee that acts as a shock absorber between the thighbone and shinbone. Each knee has two — one on the inside and one on the outside — and they can be torn by a sudden twist or, more commonly, wear gradually with age. The right treatment depends on the type, location and size of the tear.
At Complete Recovery Physiotherapy in Marple, we assess your meniscus injury, settle the pain and swelling, and guide your recovery — whether that's conservative rehabilitation or support before and after surgery. Many meniscus tears recover well with physiotherapy alone.

What You Feel
- Pain in the knee, often on the inner or outer side
- Swelling that develops after the injury or over a day or two
- A clicking, popping or locking sensation
- Pain when twisting, turning or squatting
- A feeling the knee is catching or giving way
- Reduced ability to fully bend or straighten the knee
- Tenderness along the joint line of the knee
- Pain that worsens with deep bending or pivoting
Common Causes
- Sudden twisting injury, often in sport
- Deep squatting or pivoting under load
- Age-related degeneration of the meniscus (degenerative tear)
- Combination of wear and a twisting incident in older adults
- Direct impact to a bent knee
- Activities with frequent pivoting such as football or skiing
- Underlying knee arthritis contributing to cartilage wear
- Repetitive loading over many years
Who Physiotherapy Can Help
Meniscus injuries affect two main groups — younger, active people who tear the meniscus with a sudden twist in sport, and older adults with degenerative tears that develop with wear. We help both, assessing the type of tear and guiding the right approach for your age, activity and goals.
If your knee is painful, swollen or locking after a twist, or you've been told you have a meniscus tear, we'll assess it and build a plan — most recover well without surgery.
Struggling with Meniscus Injury?
Book your assessment today. We'll find the root cause and start hands-on treatment in your first session.
Your Assessment
Your assessment identifies whether the meniscus is the source of your pain and what type of injury you have. We use specific clinical tests that stress the meniscus, assess your swelling, movement and the stability of the knee, and screen for related ligament or joint problems.
This determines whether conservative rehabilitation is appropriate or whether surgical review is needed. We'll explain your diagnosis clearly and recommend the right path — most meniscus injuries start with physiotherapy, with surgery reserved for specific cases.
How We Treat It
Our hands-on treatment approach:
- Assessment to confirm a meniscus injury and identify the type
- Hands-on treatment to ease pain, swelling and stiffness
- Restoration of full knee movement and strength
- Targeted strengthening of the quads, hamstrings and glutes
- Advice on activity modification and load management
- A graded return to activity, with surgical referral if needed
Expected Recovery
Many meniscus tears recover well with physiotherapy over 6–12 weeks, particularly degenerative and smaller tears. Tears that cause persistent locking or don't settle may need surgical review, and we support your rehab before and after any procedure.
Strengthening the muscles around the knee is central — it stabilises the joint and reduces the load on the damaged cartilage. We give you a clear plan and realistic expectations, and we're here throughout whether your recovery is conservative or post-surgical.
Everything You Need to Know Before Booking
No GP referral needed. Direct access appointments available — often same-day or within a few days.
What Happens at Your First Appointment
Your first session is a 45-minute comprehensive assessment. We start by listening — understanding your symptoms, your history, and what you want to get back to. We then carry out a thorough hands-on physical examination to identify the root cause of your problem. You'll receive a clear explanation of what's going on, a personalised treatment plan, and hands-on treatment begins in that very first session. You leave knowing exactly what's wrong, what we'll do about it, and how long recovery will take.
What Should I Wear?
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the area we're treating. For knee, hip, or leg problems, shorts are ideal. For shoulder, neck, or back issues, a loose top or vest works well. You'll never be asked to undress beyond what's necessary for examination and treatment, and you'll always be treated with dignity and respect in our private treatment room.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
This depends on your condition, how long you've had it, and your goals. Many patients feel significant improvement within 3–6 sessions. Acute injuries often resolve faster, while long-standing or complex conditions may need more. We'll give you a clear treatment timeline at your first appointment — and we only ever recommend sessions you genuinely need. Our goal is to get you independent and pain-free as quickly as possible, not to keep you coming back.
Can I Claim Through Insurance?
Yes. We are recognised by most major health insurance providers including AXA, Vitality, Bupa, WPA, and Healix. We can bill your insurer directly so you don't need to pay upfront — simply bring your insurance authorisation number to your appointment. If you're not sure whether you're covered, call us and we'll help you check before you book.
Treated by a Qualified, Experienced Professional

Rob Wood
Head Physio & Clinic Owner
Meet Rob, founder of Complete Recovery Physiotherapy in Marple.
Meniscus Injury Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Complete Recovery Physiotherapy?
Accurate Diagnosis
We use specific clinical tests to confirm a meniscus injury and identify the type, so we recommend the right path — conservative rehab or surgical review — for your specific tear.
Avoid Surgery Where Possible
Most meniscus tears recover well with physiotherapy. We help you avoid surgery where appropriate, and advise honestly when surgical review is needed.
Pre- and Post-Surgery Support
If surgery is needed, we build your strength before and rebuild it afterwards, guiding a safe, structured return to full activity.
Hands-On Plus Strengthening
Manual therapy to ease pain and swelling combined with a targeted strengthening programme to stabilise your knee — the combination that produces lasting results.
Same Physio Every Time
Continuity of care with a physio who knows your knee, your injury and your goals throughout your recovery, conservative or surgical.
Free Parking in Marple
Easy visits at Bowden Hall with free parking right outside — important when your knee makes getting about harder.
Related Conditions We Treat

Knee Pain
Knee pain can come from the joint, tendons, ligaments or cartilage — and the right treatment depends on the exact source. We assess precisely and rebuild strong, pain-free knee movement at our Marple clinic.
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ACL Rehabilitation
ACL rehabilitation is the structured, phased recovery that rebuilds your knee after an ACL injury or reconstruction — restoring stability, strength and confidence for a safe return to sport, at our Marple clinic.
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Knee Arthritis
Knee arthritis causes stiffness, aching and reduced movement that worsens over time. We ease the stiffness and strengthen the muscles supporting your knee, helping you stay active and comfortable for as long as possible at our Marple clinic.
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Ligament Injuries
A ligament injury is a sprain or tear of the tough bands connecting your bones, usually in the knee, ankle or wrist. We grade the injury and guide a phased recovery restoring stability at our Marple clinic.
Learn MoreRelated Services

Physiotherapy
At Complete Recovery Physio, everything we do is built around high-quality physiotherapy. Whether you're recovering from an injury, dealing with ongoing pain, or looking to move more freely, we're here to support you.
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Post-operative Rehabilitation
Post-operative rehabilitation is the structured physiotherapy you need after surgery to restore movement, rebuild strength, and return safely to the activities that matter — guided at every stage by an experienced physiotherapist at our Marple clinic.
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Exercise Rehabilitation
Exercise rehabilitation is the structured, progressive programme that rebuilds your strength, movement and confidence after injury or surgery — turning short-term relief into lasting recovery, guided by physiotherapists at our Marple clinic.
Learn MoreDon't Let Pain Hold You Back
Expert, hands-on physiotherapy in Marple. Free parking. Same-day and short-notice appointments often available.
Ready to Start Your Recovery?
Book your assessment today and take the first step towards a pain-free, active life. Free parking at our Marple clinic.



