Tom Willemann Health Tips

"Regular Health Tips From Physical Therapist Tom Willemann..."

Use the Form Below to Get Them All Sent to You for FREE

Is surgery better than physical therapy if you have arthritis and meniscal tears?

Absolutely NOT. In a recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine (Katz, J. N., Surgery versus Physical Therapy for a Meniscal Tear and Osteoarthritis. March 19, 2013 DOI:

10.1056/NEJMoa1301408) researchers looked at over 351 patients 45 years or older that reported knee pain while suffering from meniscal tears and mild to moderate arthritis. Two groups were randomly assigned to either surgery followed by physical therapy or physical therapy alone. At 6 months there was no difference between the groups in functional outcomes and pain levels.
Sometimes, with simple activity modifications and rest, but no surgery or regimen of physical therapy, patients can see results with the passage of time. But, if after 2-3 months symptoms persist, I get more concerned that time and rest are not the solution. If you experience significantly reduced range of motion, severely altered gait and muscle atrophy, I recommend that you seek physical therapy and possibly orthopedic evaluation.
If your orthopedist suggests surgery, be sure to ask, “What are the risks if I wait to have the surgery performed?” Complications of any invasive procedure such as surgery vary but are always possible, so surgery is a risky alternative. Try physical therapy first. This research suggests that surgery for meniscal repair may not be helpful. However, with the improved durability of joint replacement materials and improved surgical techniques, knee replacement may be indicated.

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
Share This