Gluteus Medius Repair — Arthroscopic Gluteus Medius Repair (with or without Labral Debridement)

Sutter Health / Palo Alto Medical Foundation · Kevin Roth MD

Weight-Bearing

Touchdown WB (~20 lbs) with crutches wks 1-6; FWB wks 6+

Key Restrictions

No active abduction or IR wks 1-4; no passive ER or adduction wks 1-4; flex 0-90°, no hyperextension; no joint/capsular mobilizations throughout; avoid SLR (flexion) wks 1-6; avoid side-lying abduction against gravity until 12 weeks; RTS 4-6 months with MD clearance

Timeline & Phases

Wks 1-4: Touchdown WB (~20 lbs), flex 0-90°, ext 0°, no active abd or IR, no passive ER or adduction — bike without resistance, gait training PWB, isometrics (quad, glut, hamstring digs), prone lying, STM/scar massage, no joint mobs; Wks 4-6: Continue touchdown WB, progress passive hip flex beyond 90°, PROM pain-free — avoid SLR, protect repaired tissue, restore hip ROM, hamstring isometrics, progress hip/core/quad; Wks 6-12: FWB, full ROM — begin SLR (flexion), bike with resistance, glut/hamstring isometrics, avoid side-lying abduction against gravity until 12 wks, balance/proprioception; Wks 12+: FWB — treadmill walking → running (when abductor strength = contralateral), SL squats, lunges, side planks, plyometrics, sport-specific at 80% hip strength, RTS 4-6 months with MD clearance

Notes

Arthroscopic gluteus medius repair; no active abduction or IR wks 1-4; avoid side-lying abduction against gravity until 12 weeks; running when abductor strength equals contralateral; sport-specific at 80% hip strength; RTS 4-6 months with MD clearance

Surgeon / Author

Kevin Roth MD

Published

2024