A meniscal tear is an extremely common knee injury. There are two menisci in each knee, crescent-shaped discs of cartilage which provide a cushion and shock absorber between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). The meniscus can tear when the knee is subjected to sudden or forceful twisting or rotating, although the injury can even result from kneeling, lifting heavy weights or squatting low. Up to 95% of meniscus tears are associated with a simultaneous ligament injury, such as an ACL tear.