[en] Objetive. To analyze the currently scientific evidence available about the effectiveness of physical therapy techniques used in the conservative treatment of patients diagnosed with meniscal tears in order to evaluate their impact on the main clinical variables of patients, compared to other treatment modalities. Methods. This work is a literature review conducted in the main health databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and PEDro from March to April 2021. A total of 10 articles published in the last 6 years in Spanish and English were included. The following variables were analyzed: methodological quality, pain, functionality, quality of life, health condition, activity level, disability, muscle strength, performance and intervention costs. Outcomes. Of the 10 articles included, 6 were clinical trials, 3 systematic reviews with meta-analysis and 1 systematic review. Most of them compare conservative physiotherapy treatment with surgical treatment in middle-aged patients diagnosed with meniscus tear, observing and analyzing their effects on clinical variables, considering pain and functionality as the main ones. The interventions performed were both the application of a manual physiotherapy technique and programs of muscle strengthening exercises, neuromuscular training and balance and coordination training. In most articles comparing the effectiveness of both treatments, no clinically relevant differences were found in the clinical variables studied. Conclusions. We can conclude that conservative physical therapy treatment is as effective as surgical treatment in the rehabilitation of middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears. However, there is no common intervention protocol and there are not enough studies on its efficacy in young patients with traumatic tears.

[gl] Obxectivo. Analizar a evidencia científica dispoñible na actualidade sobre a eficacia das diversas técnicas de fisioterapia utilizadas no tratamento conservador de pacientes diagnosticados de rotura de menisco, co fin de evaluar o seu impacto sobre as variables clínicas dos pacientes, en comparación con outras modalidades de tratamento. Material e método. Este traballo é unha revisión bibliográfica realizada nas principais bases de datos de ámbito sanitario PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus e PEDro durante os meses de marzo e abril de 2021. Incluíronse un total de 10 artigos publicados nos últimos 6 anos en español e inglés. Analizáronse as seguintes variables: calidade metodolóxica, dor, funcionalidade, calidade de vida, estado de saúde, nivel de actividade, discapacidade, forza muscular, rendemento e custos de intervención. Resultados. Dos 10 artigos incluídos, 6 foron ensaios clínicos, 3 revisións sistemáticas con metaanálise e 1 revisión sistemática. Na maioría deles, compárase o tratamento conservador de fisioterapia co tratamento cirúrxico en pacientes de mediana idade diagnosticados de rotura meniscal, observando e analizando os seus efectos sobre as variables clínicas, considerándose como principais a dor e a funcionalidade. As intervencións realizadas foron tanto a aplicación dunha técnica manual de fisioterapia como programas de exercicios de fortalecemento muscular, adestramento neuromuscular e adestramento do equilibrio e a coordinación. Na maioría dos artigos que comparan a eficacia de ambos tratamentos non se atoparon diferenzas clinicamente relevantes nas variables clínicas estudadas. Conclusións. Podemos concluír que o tratamento conservador de fisioterapia obtén resultados similares ao tratamento cirúrxico na rehabilitación de pacientes de mediana idade con roturas meniscales dexenerativas. Con todo, non existe un protocolo común de intervención e non hai suficientes estudos sobre a súa eficacia en pacientes novos con roturas traumáticas.