Posted on 07/10/2022 10:15:37 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
Exercise-based physical therapy is noninferior to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for patient-reported knee function at five years among patients with a degenerative meniscal tear, according to a study published online July 8 in JAMA Network Open.
Julia C.A. Noorduyn and colleagues compared the five-year effectiveness of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and exercise-based physical therapy in 321 patients aged 45 to 70 years with a degenerative meniscal tear. Participants were randomly assigned to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or 16 sessions of exercise-based physical therapy; 87.1 percent competed the five-year follow-up (mean follow-up, 61.8 months).
The researchers found that mean improvement was 29.6 and 25.1 points on the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form in the surgery and physical therapy groups, respectively, from baseline to follow-up. There was a 3.5-point crude between-group difference (95 percent confidence interval, 0.7 to 6.3 points; P < 0.001 for noninferiority); the 95 percent confidence interval did not exceed the 11-point noninferiority threshold. Rates of progression of radiographic-demonstrated knee osteoarthritis were comparable between both treatment groups.
"Findings from this trial further support the recommendation that exercise-based physical therapy should be the preferred treatment over surgery for degenerative meniscal tear," the authors write.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
https://lmtribune.com/opinion/opinion-there-is-no-such-thing-as-evidence-based-medicine/article_5213a895-abb2-5a0b-875c-d3209c2cae52.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share
I tore my meniscus 10 or 15 years ago due to overloading the knee on a leg press machine in the gym. A couple weeks after that overloading, we were on our first day of vacation visiting my uncle in Twin Falls, Idaho. I stepped out of the car and my knee just about collapsed. The pain was excruciating, probably the worst I’ve experienced.
With the help of a sports medicine doctor, I used an exercise program to recover and, to my surprise, it worked. No surgery. I’m almost 71 now and my knee seems to be fine, but I’m always wary of a relapse.
“almost 71” — egads, how did THAT happen?
I’ve had partial tears in both menisci. Similar to you, I had a total knee collapse when I was in my early 20s. I blacked out from the pain and woke up in an ambulance.
20 years later, no surgeries, I can run and jump without pain. When I do have an occasional tweak in either knee, following the good old RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) strategy works just fine.
You find a way to stop/slow it , I'm all ears.
I tried to play racket ball about two months ago. First time I slammed into a wall with my shoulder. at age 69 nothing heals anymore. now I have what seems like a permanent pain in my shoulder. wish I knew how to get rid of it.
I did have that surgery in my knee about 5 years ago, due to a torn meniscus, also using a sports medicine doctor. He cut out the ripped part and so far its been great. And no, he didn’t recommend exercises or rehab.
Do what you want, but I had a partial tear with excruciating pain for over a year.
I got the surgery and have not had a problem since - 13 years later.
Meniscus tissue does not heal. PT may mask it for a while, butyoustill have a tear.
MSM from Jarrow and take with vitamin C. I like buffered C in the form of magnesium ascorbate made by Now Foods. Externally apply DMSO.
https://jarrow.com/products/msm-35-3-oz-2-2-lb-1000-g-powder
Avoid surgery works...up to a point.
My wife had the arthroscopic surgery on both knees about 15 years ago and it worked out really well for her. No subsequent issues. She plays a lot of pickleball now, too.
Two doctors at the same practice that repaired my lower back 4x told me there was no way PT was going to heal my knee and I needed surgical intervention. Had the surgery, less than two weeks later was perfectly fine, walking like normal, no pain.
BTW: I'm a complete advocate for physical therapy and natural healing, letting the body do it's thing to heal. That works for some, doesn't for others (I fall into that camp, sadly.)
Evel Knievel had a misfortune in Twin Falls also!
Yeah, and mine was a LOT worse than his!
You can still see his ramp to this day.
“No subsequent issues. She plays a lot of pickleball now, too.”
That’s GREAT for her! I tried playing basketball a few years ago, would up taking a couple of days to return to normal, so I’m more cautious.
Thanks. She used to be a good tennis player, but age caught up. Pickleball is a GREAT substitute for septuagenarians (even though she just barely qualifies for that rubric). The outdoor courts are open at our club here in North Idaho and there’s nothing like playing early in the morning on sunny summer mornings!
Good to hear!!
"How terribly strange to be 70" -Old Friends/Simon & Garfunkel
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