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

20 lb foot-flat weight bearing with crutches initially; gradually increase to WBAT 3-6 wks; wean from crutches (two, then one, then none) 6-8 wks

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

5 phases: Phase I (day 1-28, immediate post-surgical, first PT visit at 2 wks, 20 lb foot-flat WB, circumduction, gluteal isometrics), Phase II (day 21 to wk 6, protection, progress WB and ROM, IIa exercises from wk 3, IIb from wk 4), Phase III (wks 6-12, intermediate, normalize ROM, strengthening without pain), Phase IV (wks 12-16, advanced strengthening, >=4/5 LE and trunk strength), Phase V (wk 16+, return to activity and sport-specific training)

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