A cartilage tear injury is usually followed by stiffness that prevents a joint from completely straightening or bending.
In many cases, you may feel better with rest, but your symptoms return with any new physical activity. You may also feel pain and tenderness in your joint, especially when it bears weight such as a hip-joint. In addition, the joint may lock or give way when carrying weight.
Causes and Risk Factors
Common causes include an accident or athletic injury in younger people. In older people, cartilage tears are most likely the result of a breakdown in the cartilage due to aging, which causes it to become brittle.