Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedRisk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffAnyone performing activities involving aggressive twisting and pivoting of the knee is at risk of a torn meniscus. The risk is particularly high for athletes — especially those who participate in contact sports, such as football, or activities that involve pivoting, such as tennis or basketball. The risk of a torn meniscus also increases as you get older, due to years of wear and tear on your knees.
- Meniscal tear. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00358&return_link=0. Accessed Nov. 29, 2008.
- Anderson BC. Meniscal injury of the knee. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Knee arthroscopy. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00299&return_link=0. Accessed Nov. 29, 2008
- Urquhart MW et al. Meniscal injuries in the adult. In: DeLee JC et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2003. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/114764765-3/786313327/1103/860.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-8845-4..50030-2--subchapter5_3559. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.