What are the treatment options for plica syndrome?

Plica syndrome involves an irritated fold of tissue inside the knee, often causing pain or clicking with repeated bending. A clinician considers your symptoms, examination findings, activity demands and whether another knee problem could explain them. Early care commonly reduces movements that repeatedly provoke the knee while maintaining comfortable daily movement. Physiotherapy can address thigh and hip strength, flexibility, movement control and a gradual return to loading. Pain-relief medicines may be discussed according to your health history and other medicines.

If symptoms continue despite a carefully followed non-surgical plan, a specialist may discuss knee arthroscopy. This procedure allows the surgeon to inspect the joint and treat troublesome plica tissue when the diagnosis and symptoms support it; it is not automatically needed for every irritated plica.

Keep a note of which activities trigger pain, such as stairs, squatting, running or prolonged sitting. Temporarily reduce the aggravating load and use lower-impact movement that stays comfortable. Follow the exercise progression provided by your physiotherapist rather than testing the knee with sudden intense activity. Arrange assessment if pain, catching or swelling limits normal movement, because a physical examination can help separate plica irritation from cartilage, tendon or ligament problems.

Seek prompt medical assessment after a significant injury, inability to bear weight, a knee that locks, marked swelling, fever, redness or rapidly worsening pain. These features can point to a problem needing different or more urgent care. Contact your treating clinician if exercises repeatedly increase symptoms or function is not improving as expected.

Could another knee condition be causing these symptoms? Which activities should I modify, and what movement is safe? How long should I try physiotherapy before reviewing the plan? What findings would make knee arthroscopy reasonable for me?