Hip Arthroscopy / Labral Repair — Hip Arthroscopy for FAI with Labral Repair

Brigham and Women's Hospital · Dept. of Rehabilitation Services and Orthopaedic Surgery

Weight-Bearing

PWB 20% foot-flat with crutches wks 0-2; wean crutches wk 3; FWB by wk 4

Key Restrictions

No long axis hip distraction until 8 wks (labral repair) or 12 wks (labral reconstruction); no grade III-IV hip mobs until 8 wks; capsular closure: protect ER and extension; circumduction incorporated to prevent adhesions (risk factors: age <30, mHHS <50, no microfracture, no circumduction); gluteal isometrics Phase I to decrease iliopsoas spasm; read operative report for all procedures performed

Timeline & Phases

4 phases: Phase I Protection (0-2 wks, PWB, circumduction, gluteal isometrics, stationary bike no resistance), Phase II (3-5 wks, progressive WB, aquatic therapy, hip AROM), Phase III (6-8 wks, FWB, progressive strengthening, sport-specific initiation), Phase IV (9-16 wks, advanced strengthening, return to sport)

Notes

2020; extensive evidence-based rationale provided for each protocol decision; gluteal isometrics decrease iliopsoas spasm (cited evidence); adhesion risk factors explicitly listed; capsular integrity correlated to improved outcomes (cited); labral repair vs reconstruction timeline differentiated; illustrated exercise photos included. [Archived copy — original Brigham and Women's Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2026-02-14.]

Surgeon / Author

Dept. of Rehabilitation Services and Orthopaedic Surgery

Published

2020