What does knee clicking and grinding feel like with meniscus tear?

The sensation can appear when twisting, turning, squatting, or rising from a chair. Some people feel tenderness along the inner or outer joint line, while others notice swelling or difficulty fully straightening the knee. A click is different from true locking: locking means the knee cannot move through its usual range. Several knee problems can cause similar sensations, so the trigger, injury history, examination, and sometimes imaging are considered together.

Avoid pivoting, deep squats, and activities that reproduce catching or sharp pain. Keep the leg moving gently within a comfortable range and use a cold pack for short periods if swelling follows activity. A clinician or physiotherapist can advise on safe strengthening and whether a brace, scan, or other treatment is appropriate. Do not repeatedly test a catching knee by twisting it.

Book an assessment for ongoing joint-line pain, swelling, repeated catching, or difficulty straightening the knee. Seek urgent care after a major injury if you cannot bear weight, the knee is visibly deformed, swelling develops rapidly, or the joint is locked. Fever, spreading redness, or feeling acutely unwell also needs prompt medical attention.

Where is the pain in relation to the joint line? Is my knee catching or actually locking? Which movements should I avoid for now? Do I need physiotherapy or imaging?