Joint Basics
What type of joint is the knee?
Hinge Joint/Synovial Joint
Which muscle group is responsible for knee extension?
Quadriceps
Give one common non-sport cause of a meniscus tear.
Twisting while walking, getting up awkwardly, etc.
Describe a situation in soccer where a meniscus tear might happen
Twisting during a pivot or sudden stop
What does the “P” in P.I.E.R. stand for?
Pressure
What type of movement does a hinge joint like the knee allow?
Flexion and extension
Which bone is the kneecap?
Patella
give one way to prevent a meniscus injury
Strengthen leg muscles, warm up, use proper technique
In a sport role-play, who might be the three people involved in responding to the injury?
Athlete, Coach, Trainer
Is surgery required?
It can be but in some cases surgery is not worth it.
Name one plane of movement the knee works in
Sagittal
Which two bones form the lower and upper parts of the knee joint?
Femur and Tibia
Which meniscus—medial or lateral—is more commonly stressed during movement, and why?
The medial meniscus, because it is more firmly attached and less mobile, making it more prone to stress
What might the injured athlete say they heard or felt during the tear?
A “pop” or sharp pain, can’t straighten the knee
Name two short-term treatments for a meniscus tear
Ice, elevation, compression wrap, rest
True or False: The knee is the most stable joint in the body.
False — it sacrifices some stability for mobility
What muscle at the back of the thigh helps bend the knee
Hamstrings
The meniscus helps with shock absorption in the knee. What’s one more role it plays in sports?
It helps with knee stability, distributes body weight, or assists in joint lubrication
What is one everyday scenario where a meniscus tear might happen outside of sports?
Slipping and twisting, bending while gardening, etc
What shape is the meniscus commonly compared to?
A crescent or C-shape
What structures help stabilize the knee?
(Ligaments and muscles)
The patella is a floating bone that protects the knee joint. true or flase
true
How common is a meniscus tear?
Meniscal tears affect 61 out of every 100,000 people in the U.S.
You're a personal trainer working with an older adult client. They mention knee pain after gardening. Based on what you know, explain what might have happened and what advice you would give them.
They may have over-flexed or twisted their knee, potentially stressing the meniscus. Suggest rest, gentle stretching, avoiding deep squats, and seeing a professional if pain continues.
About how many times does the average person bend their knees in a day: 100,250,800,2000 or 2800 times?
Around 2,000 times!