Cartilage has several functions in the human body:
There are several types of cartilage. These include:
Patients with damage to the cartilage in a joint (articular cartilage damage) will experience:
Patients with cartilage damage for both pre- and post-operative stages of rehab. Physiotherapy treatments are often provided after the surgery in order to help decrease stiffness and pain and assist in returning the individual to complete independence and a more active lifestyle.
The most important time in the initial management of a cartilage injury is the first 24–48 hours.