Distal Biceps Repair

Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists (OSMS)

Weight-Bearing

Posterior elbow splint at 90 deg, forearm neutral

Key Restrictions

Post-surgical splint 7 days, then hinged IROM brace unlocked 45 deg to full flexion progressing weekly (wk2: 45, wk4: 30, wk5: 20, wk6: 10, wk8: unlock/D-C); no biceps strength training outside supervised PT in Phase II; full resistance biceps curls at 16 wks

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (surgery-6 wks): splint/brace progression, hand/shoulder ROM, ball squeezes, submax shoulder isometrics, lower body cardio; Phase II (6-8 wks, after Phase I criteria met at ~4 wks): restore full ROM, wrist/forearm and shoulder strengthening; Phase III (8-16 wks, after Phase II criteria met): PREs for elbow flex/ext/supination/pronation, light biceps training 12-14 wks, return-to-sport program, full resistance biceps curls at 16 wks

Notes

OSMS Rehabilitation Guidelines; progression is criteria-based (pain well-controlled) rather than strictly time-based