About this video
Last updated: 9 October 2026
The video says that when a knee will not straighten, a bucket handle meniscus tear is one possible explanation. In this type of tear the video says a portion of the meniscus flips inwards towards the centre of the knee and becomes a physical obstruction.
Key points
- It says the meniscus normally sits along the edge of the joint, helping to cushion and guide movement.
- It says the knee then stops suddenly at a fixed point, not gradually. A mechanical block stops movement completely, while stiffness still allows movement with resistance.
- The video says that if the knee is repeatedly pushed against the block, the surrounding structures can become more irritated.
- It says the focus should be on controlled movement within a safe range rather than forcing the knee, with the structural cause assessed to decide what to do next.
Questions this video answers
Why might a knee not straighten with a bucket handle tear?
The video says a portion of the meniscus flips inwards towards the centre of the knee and becomes a physical obstruction, so the knee stops suddenly at a fixed point when you try to straighten it.
What is the difference between a mechanical block and stiffness?
The video says stiffness still allows movement, just with resistance, while a block stops movement completely.
