Jongho, a member of K-pop boy band ATEEZ, has been diagnosed with knee injury and will undergo medical checkup.
“It is with utmost regret that we are sharing some updates regarding Jongho’s health to the fans who have unconditionally supported ATEEZ,” KQ Entertainment, the group’s agency, announced on Aug. 21.
ATEEZ at KCON LA (Twitter)
ATEEZ member Jongho has been diagnosed with meniscus rupture (Twitter)
ATEEZ performed at KCON LA and according to the agency, Jongho will “return to Korea to conduct a thorough examination and treatment by experts.”
“Jongho was diagnosed with a ‘meniscus rupture’ after his last ankle injury, but because of his strong will to be on stage, he focused on conservative treatment and recovery, including injections that helped relieve pain and boost regenerative qualities,” the agency said.
It added, “However, after today's event, Jongho experienced extreme pain, so we have come to the decision of immediately suspending his upcoming schedules for August 20 (local time) and having him return to Korea to conduct a thorough examination and treatment by experts.”
“As artist health is a top priority, we ask for your kind understanding. Updates and additional information will be given following the examination results. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the sudden news, and we will do our best to ensure Jongho’s speedy recovery.”
According to the Med-el website, “A meniscus rupture is an injury to the crescent-shaped and wedge-shaped cartilage discs of the knee joint. A meniscus can either be torn or severed due to external force, or may degenerate due to age or predisposition.”
“The cartilage discs, which are composed of one-third collagen and two-thirds water, act as shock absorbers, stabilizers, and load distributors in the knee joint. The inner meniscus is firmly attached to the joint capsule of the knee. It is thus more frequently exposed to the damaging effects of external rotary movements than the more flexible outer meniscus. As a result, a meniscus rupture is more often a tear of the inner meniscus,” it added.
Symptoms of meniscus rupture are pain when bending, stretching, or turning the knee; pain under stress; swelling; feeling of instability; narrowing in the knee joint; and audible cracking or snapping noises.
The website stated that “it is generally difficult to prevent a meniscus rupture. Injuries of this kind are mainly caused by a pathological load distribution or overloading and injuries caused by sports that put a lot of strain on the knee, such as football, handball, tennis, or skiing.”
“Avoiding these sports, or a very thorough warm-up phase, may help reduce the risk of meniscus tears. Sports that are gentle on the joints, such as swimming or cycling, are good alternatives. Reducing obesity may also serve as a preventative measure. It is particularly urgent if there is a leg malalignment (knock knees or bow legs). The strain on the menisci can also be relieved by regularly changing one’s sitting position at the workplace,” according to the website.