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Physical Therapy | By Scott D. Schafer
Mr. Schafer is a Licensed Physical
Therapist and has practiced in the
area of outpatient orthopedic and
sports physical therapy since 1997.
Mr. Schafer may be reached at
(412) 257-0314. Schafer Physical
Therapy, PC is located at 3249
Washington Pike, Suite 1102,
in the Portman Commons Plaza.
Please see his website,
www.schaferpt.com.
Meniscus at Work
As a physical therapist, I am frequently asked about certain
conditions or terms that people have heard in connection with
an injury sustained by their favorite sports figure, friend or
relative.With the recent injury of several major sports figures’
knees, the occurrence and treatment of meniscus injuries has
become a hot topic.
The menisci (plural of meniscus) of the knee consist of two
portions: the medial and lateral meniscus.They consist primarily
of cartilaginous tissue.They anchor to the capsule or lining of the
knee along the top of the tibia (shin bone) via many very small
ligaments.The meniscus acts as a shock absorber for the femur
(thigh bone) on the tibia. It also acts to increase the surface area
of the top of the tibia, allowing the femur more room to “roll”
whenever the knee is bent.To a lesser extent, the meniscus also
offers some stability to the knee joint.
Injury of the menisci can be complicated in that they
generally do not have blood vessels within the bulk of the
cartilage.This means that if they are damaged or torn, they
usually don’t bleed and in turn usually can’t heal themselves.
It also means that injury to the meniscus doesn’t typically
cause drastic swelling of the knee.
The menisci, except for a small area where they attach to
the knee capsule, also lack a significant nerve supply to sense
pain.When someone damages their meniscus, they usually will
complain of pain along the joint line of the knee, but rarely
note any pain within the knee.The most common complaints
after injury to the meniscus are stiffness, difficulty bearing weight
on the injured leg, and, in more severe cases, “locking” of the
knee in a bent position.
By the time we reach the age of 30, the cartilage within our
bodies, such as that found in our menisci and discs in our spine,
begins to dessicate or dry out.This degeneration of the cartilage
can result in a meniscus tear with such simple activities as
stepping off a curb awkwardly or kneeling.Trauma is another
source of meniscus damage usually occurring when the knee is
suddenly twisted, hyper-extended, or unexpectedly bent inwardly
or outwardly.The stress placed on the cartilage will determine
the location where the meniscus tears. A thorough clinical
examination and, in most cases,MRI study can identify the
presence and type of meniscus tear.
Most meniscus tears require arthroscopic surgical repair
performed by an orthopedic surgeon. Unless the tear is in the
peripheral area where there is some blood supply, most repairs
involve the trimming or removal of the damaged tissue. In most
cases, the injured person or athlete will require a brief physical
therapy encounter after surgery to restore their range of motion,
improve their strength, and help them return to normal walking
and eventually sports or work.
Please note that the information provided in this article is intended
for informational use only, and is not a substitute for proper medical,
surgical and/or physical therapy evaluation and intervention.
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 Hurdling to Victory
Thanks to
Coach Heiser
Who Came
Back From
the Future to
Save SF’s
Athletic Program
Cover
Focus
Freshman hurdler Josh Godwin during a recent meet.
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South Fayette Rocks with Footloose
The musical story of a town’s toe-tapping
transformation.
Cleaning Up
Volunteers were out in force this spring tidying up
sections of South Fayette.
Landfill Power
How Waste Management keeps your trash out of
sight and turns garbage into clean energy.
Special Needs
The school district has created a unique learning
opportunity for one particular student.
History: Part One
Brushing up on South Fayette’s intriguing past.
History: Part Two
Honoring SF’s fallen in America’s wars.
Cupcakes for Seniors
When kids team up to cook food for seniors, you
can bet the result is likely to be mouthwatering.
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 Message From the Superintendent
Sixth-grader Recognized
Green Machine Wins
“Best School Band”
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