Cartilage Restoration Rehabilitation Protocols

15 Cartilage Restoration rehabilitation protocols from 9 institutions, published 2014–2025. Weight-bearing progressions vary by institution — compare them in the table below before selecting a protocol.

Compare by institution

Institution	Weight-Bearing	Key Restrictions
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center — Patellofemoral…	NWB 0-4 wks; partial WB wks 5-8; FWB ~wks 9-12	CPM 8-12 hrs/day up to 6 wks; PROM 0-60° initially; no impact until 12 wks
Mammoth Orthopedic Institute / Sierra Park PT — MACI…	TTWB x0-1 weeks; 25-50% WB x2-3 weeks; 75-full WB x4-6 weeks (may change if bipolar…	Brace locked in extension for gait, unlocked for NWB ROM x6 weeks; ROM slow progression (0-20° wks 0-2…
Mammoth Orthopedic Institute / Sierra Park PT — MACI…	TTWB x0-4 weeks; 25% WB progression/week to 50% PWB by 6 weeks (may change if bipolar…	Brace locked in extension for gait, unlocked for NWB ROM x6 weeks; ROM slow progression (0-30° wks 0-2…
Massachusetts General Hospital — Autologous Chondrocyte…	TTWB 20-30% BW wks 0-4; progressive WB thereafter per cartilage maturation stage	CPM 6-8 hrs/day wks 0-6; progression based on 4 cartilage maturation stages; strict adherence to WB…
Massachusetts General Hospital — Autologous Chondrocyte…	TTWB; more restrictive than femoral condyle ACI	No active knee extension 40-70 deg (patellofemoral compression zone); CPM limited to 0-40 deg wks 0-2…
Massachusetts General Hospital — Microfracture — Femoral…	Femoral condyle: NWB 6 wks; Patella/Trochlear groove: NWB 6-8 wks	CPM 6-8 hrs/day; lesion-specific WB and CPM rules (FC vs patella/trochlear groove); strict NWB during…
Massachusetts General Hospital — Osteochondral…	NWB 2 wks; lesion location determines subsequent WB progression	CPM initiated immediately post-op; condylar vs patellofemoral lesion-specific WB and ROM progression; no…
Massachusetts General Hospital — Osteochondritis Dissecans…	TDWB with brace locked wks 0-4; PWB 25% wks 4-6; FWB wks 6-8	Brace always locked in extension wks 0-6; no knee flexion wks 0-2; flexion to 60 deg wks 2-4; flexion to 90…
Sutter Health / Palo Alto Medical Foundation — Osteochondral…	FWB with hinged knee brace wks 0-6 (remove for CPM and exercise only); FWB no brace wks 6+	Brace locked full extension wks 0-2; CPM 6 hrs/day wks 0-6; brace unlocked daytime only wks 2-4, d/c when…
UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine…	NWB x 4 wks; 50% WB wks 4-6; FWB at 6 wks; exception: WBAT at 1-2 wks for…	NWB x 4 wks (WBAT exception for patellar/trochlear lesion with brace locked in extension); CPM 4-8 hrs/day…
University of Colorado Anschutz (CU) — Osteochondral…	NWB x 6 wks; progress to FWB without assistive device by 8 wks; D/C brace at 6 wks	NWB x 6 wks; CPM 0-30 progressing 5 deg/day to 120 (D/C at 4 wks post-op); brace D/C at 6 wks; isokinetic…
University of Virginia Orthopaedic Surgery — MACI…	WB varies by defect type/location: PF single = FWB locked; TF single/multiple = TTWB 20%…	WB and brace protocols individualized by defect location (PF vs TF) and number (single/multiple/combo); ROM…
University of Virginia Orthopaedic Surgery — Osteochondral…	25% WB weeks 0-2; 50% WB weeks 2-8; progress to WBAT after 8 weeks	Prolonged protected WB (50% for up to 8 wks); if graft involves patella/trochlea: brace locked in extension…
UW Health Sports Medicine — MACI Procedure (Matrix-Induced…	TF: axillary crutches, PWB ≤30% BW, brace 0-45° (Phase I); PF: PWB ≤50% BW, locked…	No impact until Phase IV (3-6 months); TF closed chain exercises limited to <50° knee flex in Phase III; TF…
Vericel Corporation — MACI (Matrix-Induced Autologous…	≤20% BW wk 1 (TF) / <20% BW wk 1 (PF); graduated to full WB by wks 8-10 (TF) / wks 4-6…	No brace removal without surgeon approval; no shear forces on graft; no active knee extension against…