--- title: "Meniscus Tear Treatment in Haslemere" description: "Physiotherapy for a torn knee cartilage in Haslemere. Most degenerative meniscus tears respond to exercise rather than surgery." canonical: "https://healthflex.co.uk/services/meniscus-tear" --- ![Hands in white lab coat holding knee joint model and pointing with black pen at orange ligament](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-meniscus-tear.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790157213393&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Hip and knee conditions # Meniscus tear £62–£72 30–45 mins [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) The menisci are two crescents of cartilage that sit between the thigh bone and shin bone, spreading load and helping the knee stay stable. **They tear in two quite different ways**, and the difference matters more than almost anything else on this page. A traumatic tear happens to a younger knee during a twisting incident, often alongside other damage. A degenerative tear happens gradually in a middle aged or older knee as the tissue becomes less resilient, and frequently produces symptoms without any incident at all. ## Why the distinction matters For degenerative tears, a substantial body of good quality evidence has compared arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with exercise therapy, and with placebo surgery, and **has not found a meaningful advantage for the operation**. That has changed practice significantly. If you have been told you have a torn cartilage on a scan and are middle aged, the first line treatment is a proper exercise programme rather than an arthroscopy. It is also worth knowing that **meniscal tears show up on scans in a large proportion of people over fifty who have no knee pain whatsoever**. ## When surgery is appropriate **A knee that is genuinely locked, meaning you physically cannot straighten it, needs urgent orthopaedic assessment**, because a displaced fragment can be trapped in the joint. Younger patients with traumatic tears, particularly where the meniscus can be repaired rather than trimmed, are a different conversation. ## What treatment involves Settling the irritation, restoring movement, then a progressive strengthening programme for the quadriceps and the hip. Improvement is usually measured over two to three months rather than weeks. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Frequently Asked Questions Does a torn meniscus need surgery? Usually not, if it is a degenerative tear. Good quality trials comparing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with exercise therapy and with placebo surgery have not shown a meaningful advantage for the operation, so exercise is first line treatment for middle aged degenerative tears. What is the difference between a traumatic and a degenerative tear? A traumatic tear happens to a younger knee in a twisting incident, often with other damage alongside. A degenerative tear develops gradually as the tissue becomes less resilient with age, and frequently causes symptoms with no incident at all. The treatment differs considerably. When is a meniscus tear urgent? If your knee is genuinely locked and you physically cannot straighten it, that needs urgent orthopaedic assessment, because a displaced fragment may be trapped in the joint. A knee that is sore and stiff but straightens is not the same thing. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Available Team Members These team members perform this service - ![Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has swept back dark hair greying at the sides and a warm, closed mouth smile, and wears a pale pink striped shirt with a pink and blue striped tie. The background is a blurred garden of autumn shrubs and trees.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-martin-dyer-physiotherapist-director-haslemere-48x59.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158917409&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Martin Dyer Physiotherapist and Director [View](/team-members/martin-dyer) - ![Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight fair hair and is smiling at the camera, wearing a white Healthflex Physical Therapy Centres polo shirt. Behind her, out of focus, are a green playing field, a wooden rail fence and autumn trees under a cloudy sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-anneke-webb-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x53.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158550952&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Anneke Webb Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/anneke-webb) - ![Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight light brown hair and a wide, friendly smile, and wears a navy zip neck fleece. Behind her, out of focus, are a yellow green hedge and trees under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-phillipa-frankland-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x61.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159136941&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Phillipa Frankland Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/phillipa-frankland) - ![Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Close head and shoulders portrait of Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has short dark hair and a full dark beard flecked with grey, with a relaxed closed mouth smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind him is soft green foliage under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2FNick%2520Thornhill-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159610604&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Nick Thornhill Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/nick-thornhill) Show more team members - ![Theika Botterill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Theika Botterill, physiotherapist specialising in sports and musculoskeletal care at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has brown hair tied back and a wide, beaming smile, and wears a pink Healthflex polo shirt. The background is a blurred autumn hedge under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-theika-botterill-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x60.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159715633&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Theika Botterill Physiotherapist, sports and musculoskeletal [View](/team-members/theika-botterill) - ![Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Gill Onslow, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has wavy light brown hair with a fringe and a gentle smile, and wears a pink polo shirt under a navy V neck jumper. The background is a soft, bright blur of green garden foliage.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-gill-onslow-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x72.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158706868&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Gill Onslow Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/gill-onslow) - ![Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist specialising in sports injury and rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has fair hair tied back and a relaxed smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind her is a dense green hedge, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-imogen-scott-plumber-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159848262&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Imogen Scott-Plumber Physiotherapist | Sports Injury & Rehabilitation | Performance [View](/team-members/imogen-scott-plumber) - ![Kathryn Lewis, neurological physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Kathryn Lewis, physiotherapist specialising in adult neurological rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has shoulder length dark brown hair lit by sunshine and a broad smile, and wears a white Healthflex polo shirt. Behind her is dark green foliage, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-kathryn-lewis-neurological-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x71.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158869397&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Kathryn Lewis Physiotherapist, adult neurological rehabilitation [View](/team-members/kathryn-lewis) ## Related Services Complete your experience with these services - Musculoskeletal physiotherapy £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/musculoskeletal-physiotherapy) - Strength and conditioning programmes £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/strength-and-conditioning-programmes)