Meniscus Tear

Knee-friendly exercises: ① Swimming/water walking — 80% reduction in joint load due to buoyancy, ② Stationary cycling — Minimizes pressure on the medial meniscus by adjusting the saddle height to a slight knee flexion angle, ③ Lying quadriceps strengthening (SLR, Straight Leg Raise) — Strengthens stabilizing muscles without compressing the joint. Exercises to avoid: Running (repetitive impact), full flexion squats, and ball sports involving frequent jumping and changes of direction. Knee muscle strengthening programs (especially VMO — vastus medialis) distribute the load on the meniscus, providing long-term protection. From the perspective of a Korean medicine clinic: In Korean medicine, appropriate exercise is a key element in promoting circulation and preventing the accumulation of waste products. Excessive rest actually exacerbates circulatory stagnation. However, strenuous exercise while stagnant blood remains can worsen pain by combining heat and blood stasis. At Dongjedang, we guide patients from the beginning with light calisthenics and inner knee muscle strengthening exercises to aid circulation, tailored to the treatment stage, and recommend a method of gradually increasing the range of activity as inflammation subsides.