Łąkotka. Uszkodzenie łąkotki. Tejpowanie łąkotki. Meniscus taping.

Meniscal injuries are among the most common knee injuries. Young people who actively participate in sports are more susceptible to acute, mechanical injuries caused by a sudden increase in forces acting on the knee combined with its twisting. Older people are more susceptible to pain due to degeneration resulting from prolonged improper loading. The knee joint contains two menisci: the medial and lateral. These are crescent-shaped, connective tissue, cartilage-fibrous structures located between the cartilage surfaces of the femur and tibia. The Latin name for meniscus, meniscus, comes from the Greek word meniskos, meaning "crescent." The menisci are attached by ligaments, the structure of which makes the medial meniscus less mobile and more susceptible to chronic, overuse injuries than the lateral meniscus, even without significant trauma. The menisci are composed primarily of collagen fibers arranged circularly and interwoven radially with elastic fibers. Scattered among the collagen fibers are cells called chondrofiberocytes, characteristic of fibrocartilage. In the outer third (near the knee joint capsule), the menisci are well supplied with blood and innervated. Nerve endings and vessels gradually disappear in the central portion, until they are completely absent in the free margin deep within the joint. This structure determines the healing and regeneration processes of the meniscus, which occur much more easily in the red (vascularized) zone, while in the poorly vascularized and avascular (white) zones, they do not occur at all or require biological support. The menisci align the tibial condyles with the femoral condyles. They absorb loads transferred to the cartilage surfaces of the knee and contribute to the mechanical stabilization of the joint. They participate in the exchange of nutrients and metabolic waste products of the joint cells, as well as the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This is achieved by filtering synovial fluid through the menisci. Thanks to the nerve endings that act as proprioceptive receptors, the meniscus is part of a complex system for controlling body posture. Meniscal injuries in the vast majority of cases require arthroscopic treatment. If the injured person is not an active athlete, symptoms can be alleviated through physical therapy, appropriate training, or kinesiology taping. Kinesiology tapes are designed to stimulate the appropriate receptors and correct the connective tissue system. In many cases, I have observed in my work that applying the tape significantly reduces symptoms and allows continued physical activity.