Why do meniscus root tears happen from something as simple as squatting?

The mechanics of a deep bend

As the knee bends beyond about a right angle, the thigh bone rolls back and presses on the rear part of the meniscus. The posterior root of the medial meniscus is relatively fixed, so it takes much of this strain. Rising from a deep squat, standing up from the floor, or stepping down from a height adds a twisting load at the same moment.

In a young, supple meniscus this is usually tolerated. From middle age, the tissue has less water and less elasticity, and small areas of wear can turn into a full tear with one ordinary movement.

Who is more likely to have one

• Adults from their 40s onwards, and more often women
• People carrying extra body weight, which increases load on the inner knee
• Bow-legged alignment, which shifts weight to the inner side
• Knees with early arthritis or previous meniscus trouble
• Lateral root tears, by contrast, usually come from a twisting sports injury in younger people and often occur with an ACL tear

Daily life in Qatar

Many people here sit on the floor at majlis gatherings, kneel and bend deeply in prayer, or squat for household and manual tasks. These are normal, healthy movements and do not need to be avoided by everyone. The point is that, for a knee already at risk, a familiar movement can be the moment a root gives way, which is why patients are often surprised that nothing dramatic happened.

Can you lower the risk?

Strong thigh and hip muscles, a healthy body weight and avoiding repeated deep loaded squats in the gym may reduce strain on the meniscus. If you already have inner knee pain with deep bending, using a chair for prayer or meals for a while and having the knee examined is sensible. A sudden pop with inner pain should be assessed at Aman Hospital in Doha rather than ignored.