What is a cartilage injury?
Cartilage is the smooth, firm connective tissue that covers the ends of bones within joints, acting as a shock absorber and providing a low-friction surface for joint movement. There are two types of cartilage commonly injured in sport and activity: articular cartilage (the smooth covering on bone ends) and fibrocartilage, of which the menisci in the knee are the most clinically significant examples.
Articular cartilage injuries - called chondral lesions - occur when the cartilage covering is damaged either by acute trauma (a direct blow, twisting injury, or dislocation) or by chronic repetitive overload. Cartilage has a very limited capacity for self-repair, because it has no direct blood supply - nutrients reach it by diffusion from the synovial fluid. This means cartilage injuries tend to be slow to heal and, without appropriate management, can progress to early-onset osteoarthritis.
The knee is the most commonly affected joint, followed by the ankle. In younger, active patients, cartilage injuries often result from sports trauma. In older patients, they more commonly represent the early stages of osteoarthritis.
Understanding cartilage injuries
Causes and contributing factors
- Acute trauma - a significant impact, twisting injury, or dislocation that compresses or shears the cartilage surface
- Chronic repetitive overload - high-volume impact sport loading the joint beyond its adaptive capacity over months and years
- Malalignment of the knee or ankle altering load distribution across the cartilage surface
- Previous ligament injury - particularly ACL tears, which alter joint mechanics and increase cartilage loading
- Being overweight - each kilogram of excess body weight multiplies the load on knee cartilage during walking and sport
Symptoms to recognise
- Deep, aching joint pain that is difficult to localise precisely, worsening with loading
- Swelling that develops after activity and settles with rest
- Stiffness after periods of inactivity
- Clicking, catching, or locking sensations in more significant injuries
- Pain with specific loading positions - deep knee flexion for posterior cartilage lesions, or terminal extension for anterior lesions
- In severe cases, a feeling that the joint is giving way or unable to bear full load
How Bearhug helps
Cartilage injuries require careful load management - too little loading slows recovery (cartilage needs mechanical stimulus to maintain its health), while too much loading perpetuates damage. Compression supports help manage this balance by keeping the joint warm and supported through appropriate activity, allowing controlled loading while reducing the uncontrolled joint movement that causes cartilage shear stress.
The Bearhug knee support reduces swelling through graduated compression, which is particularly important for cartilage injuries where joint effusion (swelling within the joint capsule) is a major driver of pain and reduced movement. Warmth from the bamboo sleeve improves synovial fluid viscosity and distribution - directly supporting the mechanism by which cartilage receives its nutrients. Improved proprioception from compression also reduces the risk of the uncontrolled loading events that cause the greatest cartilage damage.
Cartilage injuries benefit significantly from working with a physiotherapist to develop an appropriate graduated loading programme alongside compression management.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing pain or injury, please consult a qualified healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Bearhug products are Class 1 medical devices designed to support - not replace - medical treatment.