Everything You Need to Know About Knee Arthroscopy
What is Knee Arthroscopy?
Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat problems inside the knee joint. A surgeon inserts a small camera (arthroscope) and tiny surgical tools through small incisions to look at the structures inside the knee and fix any damage such as trimming a torn meniscus, smoothing cartilage, or removing loose fragments.
An analogy…
Think of your knee like a car engine with a dashboard camera. Instead of opening the whole engine, the mechanic uses a camera and small tools through keyholes to check inside and fix the problem. That’s what arthroscopy is; keyhole surgery for your knee.
What are other names that knee arthroscopy can be called?
- Knee Scope
- Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
- Keyhole Knee Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery
What causes knee arthroscopy to be needed?
Knee arthroscopy is usually done when other treatments haven’t worked, or when a clear diagnosis or repair is needed. Common reasons include:
- Meniscus tears
- Cartilage damage
- Loose bone or cartilage fragments
- Ligament injuries (e.g. partial ACL tears)
- Inflammation in the joint lining
- Persistent swelling, locking, or clicking
What are the signs and symptoms that might lead to knee arthroscopy?
- Ongoing knee pain, especially deep inside the joint
- Swelling or inflammation that doesn’t settle with rest
- Locking or catching when you bend or straighten your knee
- Instability or giving way
- Clicking or grinding sounds
- Limited range of motion or stiffness
- Poor response to physio, rest, or medication
What tests are used to diagnose issues that need knee arthroscopy?
- Physical assessment: checking joint movement, pain, and instability
- MRI scan: shows soft tissue injuries (e.g. meniscus, cartilage, ligaments)
- X-ray: to rule out arthritis or fractures
- If imaging is unclear or doesn’t match symptoms, arthroscopy may be used to look inside directly
How long does knee arthroscopy take to heal?
Recovery depends on what was done during the surgery:
- Simple clean-out or inspection: 2–4 weeks
- Meniscus trimming or cartilage smoothing: 4–6 weeks
- More complex procedures (e.g. ligament repair): 8–12+ weeks
Most people return to normal daily activities within 1–3 weeks, and sports or heavy activity in 6–12 weeks, depending on rehab.
How does knee arthroscopy happen?
You’re usually given a local or general anaesthetic. The surgeon makes 2–3 small cuts around your knee, inserts a camera, and uses fine instruments to assess or treat the problem. The knee is then flushed with sterile fluid, the tools are removed, and the incisions are closed with small stitches or tape. You often go home the same day.
What treatment can help after knee arthroscopy?
- Rest and ice in the first 48–72 hours
- Elevation to reduce swelling
- Gentle movement (heel slides, quad activation) to prevent stiffness
- Manual therapy to reduce swelling and restore motion
- Progressive strengthening exercises (quads, glutes, hamstrings)
- Walking with crutches if needed early on
- Physiotherapy to guide rehab and prevent compensation patterns
- Return to activity gradually, based on your recovery and what was done during the procedure
What exercises or stretches can I do after knee arthroscopy?
- Quad sets (tightening thigh muscle)
- Heel slides to improve knee bending
- Straight leg raises
- Bridges for glute and hamstring activation
- Knee extensions and mini-squats
- Step-ups and balance work
- Cycling on a stationary bike
What products can help with knee arthroscopy?
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A hip flexor strain happens when one of the muscles at the front of your hip, mainly the iliopsoas or rectus femoris, gets overstretched or torn. It’s a common injury in sports that involve kicking, sprinting, or sudden movements, causing pain at the front of the hip or groin.
An analogy…
Think of the hip flexor muscles like strong elastic bands that lift your knee toward your chest. If they are stretched too quickly or too far, they can tear like a snapping rubber band.
What are other names that a hip flexor strain can be called?
Hip Flexor Injury, Iliopsoas Strain, Psoas Strain, Hip Flexor Tear, Strained Iliopsoas Muscle, Torn Iliopsoas Muscle, Pulled Hip Flexor
What causes a hip flexor strain?
The hip flexors are a group of muscles that help you lift your thigh toward your body. A strain happens when the muscle fibres are overloaded, usually from a sudden burst of force or a rapid stretch beyond their limit. This causes small (or large) tears in the muscle or its tendon near the pelvis.
What are the signs and symptoms of a hip flexor strain?
- Sharp pain at the front of the hip or groin area
- Tenderness when pressing the hip flexor muscles
- Pain with lifting the knee, sprinting, kicking, or climbing stairs
- Stiffness or weakness in the hip, especially when bending forward
- Swelling or bruising in the front of the hip
- Pain when stretching the hip backward
What tests are used to diagnose a hip flexor strain?
Palpation: Feeling for tenderness in the front of the hip
Resisted hip flexion test: Pain when lifting the knee against resistance
Stretching tests: Extending the hip backward reproduces symptoms
How long does a hip flexor strain take to heal?
Grade 1 (mild) strains often heal in 1 to 2 weeks. Grade 2 (moderate) strains usually take 3 to 6 weeks. Grade 3 (severe) strains (significant tearing) can take 8 to 12 weeks or more to fully recover.
How does a hip flexor strain happen?
- Sudden sprinting or kicking movements
- Explosive acceleration or direction changes
- Tight hip flexor muscles
- Poor warm-up or muscle preparation
- Weak glutes and core, causing the hip flexors to overwork
- Fatigue or previous hip injuries increasing the risk
What treatment can help a hip flexor strain?
- Relative rest from aggravating activities early on
- Ice application for the first 48–72 hours to control swelling
- Manual therapy (massage, dry needling, and stretching)
- Progressive strengthening and controlled stretching of the hip flexors
- Postural retraining and core strengthening
- Gradual return to running, kicking, and sport-specific drills
What exercises or stretches can I do for a hip flexor strain?
- Isometric hip flexor holds
- Glute and core strengthening exercises
- Gentle hip flexor stretches
- Straight leg raises to rebuild control
What products can help with a hip flexor strain?