Cartilage is the tissue that protects and cushions your joints. It also makes up parts of the body like the outer ear and nose.
Cartilage injuries are common types of joint injuries, and occur most often in the knee. They can be caused by sports, falls, or general wear and tear.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cartilage injuries include:
- Pain in the joint or at the injury site
- Stiffness in the injured joint
- Swelling
- Reduced ability to move the joint
- Joint locking
Treatments
Many cartilage injuries can heal with at-home treatments like rest, ice, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, or using a brace.
If these don't work, your doctor may try nonsurgical treatments like corticosteroid injections or other injections that can reduce pain and inflammation, as well as physical therapy.
In some cases, surgery may be needed. There are different kinds of surgeries for cartilage injuries. Some help encourage the cartilage to heal itself, while others replace the damage cartilage.
Risk Factors
While cartilage injuries can happen to anyone, there are some activities or factors that can increase your risk, like:
- Playing sports that require you to pivot on one foot or do overhead motions, such as soccer, tennis, volleyball, and football
- Repetitive motion of the joint
- Being overweight
- Aging