A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries we treat at our Melbourne CBD clinic. The menisci are two C-shaped cartilage pads that act as shock absorbers and provide stability in the knee joint. Tears can occur suddenly during sport or gradually through age-related wear and tear.
Our clinic is led by Dr. Tim Sayer, a physiotherapist with a PhD specifically focused on knee injury and rehabilitation. His research background ensures your diagnosis and rehabilitation are evidence-based and tailored to getting you back to full activity as efficiently as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
The meniscus is a wedge-shaped piece of cartilage that sits between your thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). Each knee has two menisci — the medial (inner) and lateral (outer). Meniscus tears can be traumatic (acute) or degenerative (gradual).
Common causes include:
Symptoms typically include:
Frequently Asked Questions
At Melbourne CBD Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine, we combine thorough clinical assessment with Kineo isokinetic dynamometry to measure your quadriceps and hamstring strength and guide your rehabilitation program.
Not all meniscus tears require surgery. Current evidence shows that for many degenerative and some traumatic tears, structured physiotherapy produces outcomes equivalent to surgery with significantly less risk and recovery time.
Treatment may include:
Dr. Tim Sayer is Co-Director of Melbourne CBD Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine. He holds a Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) and a PhD with a specific research focus on knee injury and rehabilitation. He is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne and a member of Team ACL, Australia’s leading ACL research consortium.
Tim has worked as sports physiotherapist with Melbourne Storm and treats knee injuries in both elite athletes and everyday patients. His research-driven approach ensures you receive the most current and effective care available.
Our team look forward to working with you to help achieve your goals
In most cases yes — with appropriate modifications. Your physiotherapist will guide you on safe activities while your knee heals and progressively load the knee as recovery progresses.
Recovery time varies depending on severity. Conservative physiotherapy typically takes 6–12 weeks. Post-surgical rehabilitation may take 3–6 months depending on the procedure.
In most cases yes — with appropriate modifications. Your physiotherapist will guide you on safe activities while your knee heals and progressively load the knee as recovery progresses.
The medial meniscus (inner side) is more commonly injured. The lateral meniscus (outer side) is typically injured during high-speed twisting activities. Both can be effectively managed with physiotherapy.
Our Knee Clinic Melbourne CBD offers specialist physiotherapy for meniscus injuries and a broad range of knee conditions. Led by Tim Sayer, Director and Senior Physiotherapist, the clinic provides expert assessment and evidence-based rehabilitation for meniscus tears — whether conservative management or post-surgical recovery.
