What is a meniscus tear?

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The meniscus is a structure in the knee comprised of two C-shaped wedges of cartilage that cushion and stabilize the knee joint. The meniscus can easily become overused since its main purpose is to act as guard for the knee bones while bearing the body’s weight. The meniscus tear is a knee condition where the meniscus is partially of fully torn. In most people, the meniscus tear is caused by aging, but twisting the knee or a direct fall can also result in a meniscus tear. The symptoms usually include stiffness, swelling, and an uncomfortable pain in the knee.  Additional symptoms include swelling, tenderness when the sides of the knee joint are pressed, a popping sound while moving, or limited mobility.