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

Massachusetts General Hospital · MGH Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

PWB 20 lbs foot-flat step-to with crutches wks 0-2; wean crutches wk 3+

Key Restrictions

No active SLR; no active hip flexion x 21 days (self-assisted only); hip flexion 0-90 deg, ext 0 deg (no beyond neutral), ABD 0-30, ER 0-30, IR 0-30 Phase I; no grade III-IV hip mobs; no long axis hip distraction (labral repair or reconstruction); avoid sitting >30 min x 2 wks; sit with hip angle <90 deg; prone lying 15 min 2-3x/day to avoid hip flexor contracture; capsular closure: protect ER and extension; labral reconstruction: stricter timeline than repair; avoid hip flexor tendinitis, synovitis, trochanteric bursitis, LBP/SI pain throughout

Timeline & Phases

4 phases: Phase I (0-2 wks, PWB 20 lbs, ROM within limits, circumduction for adhesion prevention), Phase II (2-5 wks, progressive WB, stationary bike, aquatic therapy wk 4+), Phase III (6-8 wks, full WB, progressive strengthening, sport-specific initiation), Phase IV (9-12 wks, return to sport); labral reconstruction: add 2-4 weeks to each phase

Notes

Criterion-based; capsular closure and capsular plication variants addressed; labral repair vs reconstruction differentiated (reconstruction = longer timeline); circumduction critical for adhesion prevention (risk factors: age <30, mHHS <50, no microfracture, no circumduction); outcome tools: mHHS, iHOT-33, VAS; return to sport: HAGOS ≥90%, LSI ≥90% strength, physician clearance. [Archived copy — original Massachusetts General Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2026-02-19.]

Surgeon / Author

MGH Sports Medicine