Meniscus Repair Rehabilitation Protocols

29 Meniscus Repair rehabilitation protocols from 20 institutions, published 2015–2025. Weight-bearing progressions vary by institution — compare them in the table below before selecting a protocol.

Institution	Weight-Bearing	Key Restrictions
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center — Isolated Meniscus Repair	WBAT with crutches and brace locked at 0 deg (Phases I-II); FWB D/C crutches and brace…	PROM 0-90 deg Phases I-II; no flex beyond 90 deg until Phase III; no loaded flex >45 deg x 4 wks; no loaded…
Massachusetts General Hospital — Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair…	PWB with brace locked and crutches wks 0-6; DC brace/crutches at 6 wks per MD	Brace locked, PWB wks 0-6; avoid active knee flexion wks 0-3 (hamstring strain risk on posteromedial joint)…
Massachusetts General Hospital — Isolated Meniscus Repair…	PWB with brace locked and crutches	Avoid active knee flexion (hamstring strain risk on posteromedial joint); no towel under knee; no pivoting on…
Mountain Orthopaedics — Isolated Meniscal Repair	PWB 40-60 lbs with crutches wks 0-4; WBAT unprotected when no limp and good quad control…	Knee immobilizer full time wks 0-2; no resistance exercises wks 4-6; no kneeling or squatting until after wk…
NYU Langone Health — All-Inside Meniscus Repair	TTWB	TDWB (0%) 0-2 wks; 25% PWB wks 2-4; 50% PWB wks 5-6; brace locked in extension 0-4 wks (ambulation/sleep); no…
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center — Advanced…	Root: NWB x 4 wks, crutch D/C by 6 wks; Radial: typically NWB x 4 wks, crutch D/C by 6…	Root/radial: no resisted isotonic hamstring x 8 wks; TROM immobilizer x 10-14 days (root); ROM 0-90 wks 0-2…
Orthopaedic Associates of Maine	FWB in extension 4 wks; knee immobilizer 3 wks	Knee immobilizer 3 wks; FWB in extension only 4 wks; CKC 20-90° or full extension; avoid submaximal CKC 6…
Orthopaedic Associates of Maine	TDWB 4-6 wks; knee immobilizer 4 wks	Knee immobilizer 4 wks; TDWB 4-6 wks; CKC 20-70° or full extension only; avoid submaximal CKC 8 wks; active…
Orthopaedic Associates of Maine	NWB 4-6 wks (per MD); TDWB in full extension may be allowed per MD; WBAT wks 7-9	NWB 4-6 wks; immobilizer locked at 0° until 4 wks; CKC at 6 wks in full extension or 20-70° only (maintained…
Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists (OSMS)	NWB in locked brace in extension x2 wks Phase I, then WBAT with immobilizer locked in…	No loaded knee flexion, no PROM past 90 deg, no resisted hamstring strengthening Phase I; avoid forceful knee…
Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists (OSMS) — Meniscal…	TDWB in brace with full extension and crutches x4 wks Phase I; advance to full WBAT (no…	A/PROM limited to 0-90 deg Phase I; no PROM >90 deg and no resisted hamstring strengthening Phase II; avoid…
Paragon Orthopedic Center — Isolated Meniscus Repair	PWB with crutches and brace locked x 0-2 wks; WBAT with brace locked wks 2-6 (crutches…	Brace locked at 0 deg for sleeping; unlocked 0-90 when NWB and awake; no squatting <90 deg x 3 months; no…
Saint Louis University (SLU) — Isolated Meniscus Repair	WBAT with brace locked at 0 deg	No loaded knee flex >45 deg until wk 5; no loaded flex >90 deg until wk 8; no forced hyperext if anterior…
Saint Louis University (SLUCare) — Meniscal Repair	WBAT with brace locked at 0 deg wks 1-4; WBAT wks 5+	No loaded knee flexion >45 deg until wk 5; no loaded knee flexion >90 deg until wk 8; no forced…
SAM Health — (Stable Tear -- Vertical-Longitudinal…	NWB 0-2 wks; 50% WB 2-4 wks; WBAT 4-6 wks	No deep squat >90 deg for 3 months; no hamstring strengthening with medial meniscus repair 4 wks
SAM Health — (Unstable Tear -- Radial, Root, Complex, Flap)	NWB 0-6 wks; 50% WB 6-8 wks; WBAT 8+ wks	No deep squat >90 deg for 4 months; no hamstring strengthening medial meniscus 4 wks
SOMOS (Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons) — Meniscus…	Brace locked ext; WB by tear type: radial/complex/root NWB to foot flat wks 1-6…	Brace at all times; NO flexing knee with load while WB; ROM 0-90°; no running Phase 2; jogging no earlier…
Sutter Health / Palo Alto Medical Foundation — Meniscus Body…	50% PWB wks 1-2; no WB in flexion >90°; advance to 75% wks 3-4; FWB with crutches wks…	50% PWB wks 1-2; no WB in flexion >90°; running criteria-based at wks 12+ (90% quad strength, single-leg…
Sutter Health / Palo Alto Medical Foundation — Meniscus Root…	Touchdown WB only wks 1-6; advance to WBAT wks 6-8; FWB wks 8+; no WB in flexion >90°…	Touchdown WB only wks 1-6; no WB in flexion >90°; no squatting or cross-legged sitting for 6 months; running…
UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine…	NWB x 4 wks; WBAT with 2 crutches wks 4-8; D/C crutches at 8 wks when criteria met (no…	Brace locked in extension for gait/sleeping x 4 wks (unlocked 4-8 wks for controlled gait training); D/C…
UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine…	NWB (toe touch only) x 6 wks; WBAT with 2 crutches wks 6-8; D/C crutches at 8 wks when…	NWB (toe touch) x 6 wks; brace locked in extension for all ambulation x 8 wks; brace unlocked for…
University of Colorado Anschutz (CU)	PWB (1/3 weight) wk 0-1 brace locked ext; PWB wks 1-3; FWB with normal gait wks 3-4; Root…	No knee flexion >90 deg wks 0-3; brace locked ext until SLR achieved then open 30 deg/wk (0-30, 0-60, 0-90)…
University of Delaware Physical Therapy	WB per surgeon; immobilizer locked at 0° for ambulation weeks 1-4; immobilizer d/c per…	No loaded knee flexion past 45° for 4 weeks; no loaded knee flexion beyond 90° for 8 weeks; no resisted…
University of New Mexico (UNM) Sports Medicine — Meniscal…	Root or radial repair: TDWB x 6 weeks; All other repair types: WBAT; Full WB at 6 weeks…	Brace 0-90 degrees x 6 weeks; crutches x 6 weeks; no pivoting/twisting/hopping/jumping/running until 6 weeks…
University of Virginia Orthopaedic Surgery	50% WB with crutches for 6 weeks; progress to FWB after 6 weeks	Brace 0-90° for 6 weeks (unlocked at all times after nerve block resolves, removable for hygiene and…
University of Virginia Orthopaedic Surgery — Meniscal Root…	25% WB with crutches x 6 wks; gradual transition to FWB over 2 wks at wk 6-8	Brace 0-90 deg for ambulation and sleeping; passive flex limited to 90 deg x 6 wks; no…
University Orthopedics (Brown University) — Isolated Meniscus…	PWB in brace locked in extension x 6 weeks; WBAT at ~6-9 weeks when gait normalizes	Brace locked in extension x 6 weeks; no active hamstring exercises x 6 weeks; no stationary biking x 4 weeks…
UW Health Sports Medicine	Progressive WB with locked knee brace for 4 weeks; crutch weaning as tolerated	Locked knee brace for all WB for 4 weeks; no knee flexion >90° for 4 weeks; no forced WB flexion >60°; no…
UW Health Sports Medicine — Meniscal Root and Complex Tear…	TDWB with crutches for 8 weeks; post-op extension brace for 6 weeks	TDWB for 8 weeks; post-op extension brace for 6 weeks; ROM goal 0-90° in Phase I; no WB >60° flexion in Phase…

Meniscus Repair Rehabilitation Protocols

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