Menisceal tears

What you need to know:

This is a very common injury among young men - and, these days, young women too - who play football. And you don’t have to be in the David Beckhams’ class to get it.

Like most sports injuries, it’s much more likely to happen if you haven’t warmed up by doing gentle stretching exercises before you go out for your 90 minutes of glory and if you’re not fit to start with. If you haven’t played football for years or haven’t done any other exercise regularly it’s probably best not to volunteer to be the 11th man - or woman - for the pub charity match.

Ice packs - available from most chemists - or, if you can’t find them, a packet of frozen peas will help relief any immediate pain. The homeopathic remedy Arnica (as pills and cream) can reduce any bruising and taking the supplement Glucosamine may help repair the damaged cartilage.

Natural inflammatories may also relieve the pain, but they won’t solve the problem.

The most useful Herbs:

The most useful Supplements:

If you do need surgery, treatment from a sports physiotherapist or an osteopath with an interest in sports injuries could help your recovery.
Back

This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.