140 patients with medial degenerative meniscal tear were randomized to receive either exercise therapy or undergo arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for the purpose of comparing knee function and thigh muscle strength throughout a 2-year follow-up period. Results revealed significantly greater improvement in the exercise group for muscle strength after 3 and 12 months post-intervention, in the KOOS symptoms subscale scores after 24 months, and in the 6m timed hop test at 3 and 12 months. Differences between groups for change in other KOOS subscales, differences in SF-36 mental and physical components, and differences in performance on the one-legged hop test and the knee bends test were non-significant.