Patellar Realignment Rehabilitation Protocols
7 Patellar Realignment rehabilitation protocols from 5 institutions, published 2008–2018. Weight-bearing progressions vary by institution — compare them in the table below before selecting a protocol.
Compare by institution
| Institution | Weight-Bearing | Key Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Colorado / Center for Gait and Movement Analysis… | Protected WB in long leg/cylinder cast (knee ~20 deg flexion) x 3-6 weeks; NWB for… | PROM/AAROM limited to 0-30 deg knee flexion x 1 week; 0-60 deg at week 2; 0-90 deg at week 3; no… |
| Children's Colorado / Center for Gait and Movement Analysis… | Long leg/cylinder cast (knee ~20 deg flexion) x 3-6 weeks; protected WB x 3-6 weeks; NWB… | PROM/AAROM 0-30 deg knee flexion x 1 week; 0-60 deg at week 2; 0-90 deg at week 3; no forceful/resistive quad… |
| Mountain Orthopaedics — Distal Patellar Realignment… | PWB 40-60 lbs with crutches wks 0-2; PWB 80-100 lbs wks 3-4; D/C crutches after wk 4 | Knee immobilizer full time wks 0-2; NO SLR wks 0-2; CKC before OC quad strengthening; McConnell taping if… |
| UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine… | NWB x 4 wks; 50% WB wks 4-6; FWB at 6 wks; brace locked in extension x 8 wks for… | NWB x 4 wks; 50% WB wks 4-6; FWB at 6 wks; brace locked in extension for all activities wks 0-4 (sleep… |
| University of Delaware Physical Therapy — Proximal-Distal… | WBAT in immobilizer; no full WB without immobilizer for 8 weeks (risk of fracture) | No full WB without immobilizer for 8 weeks; no NMES over VMO; no Burst testing or hop testing until 20 weeks… |
| University of Delaware Physical Therapy — Proximal Realignment | WBAT in immobilizer first 4 weeks; ambulate without immobilizer by week 6 | No NMES over VMO; no Burst testing or hop testing until 16 weeks; running when QI ≥ 80%, full ROM, and ≥ 12… |
| UW Health Sports Medicine — (Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy) | Scerpella/Day/Spiker: NWB or TDWB for 6 weeks; Baer: WBAT without pain; brace locked in… | Brace locked in extension for all gait/ADLs; no driving Phase I; CKC 0-30° progressing to 0-60° Phase II; no… |
All 7 Patellar Realignment protocols
Patellar Realignment — Patella Advancement
Children's Colorado / Center for Gait and Movement Analysis (CGMA)
Patellar Realignment — Patella Advancement with Distal Femoral Extension Osteotomy
Children's Colorado / Center for Gait and Movement Analysis (CGMA)
Patellar Realignment — Distal Patellar Realignment (Fulkerson / Elmslie-Trillat)
Mountain Orthopaedics
Patellar Realignment — MPFL Reconstruction and Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy
UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine
Patellar Realignment — Proximal-Distal Realignment
University of Delaware Physical Therapy
Patellar Realignment — Proximal Realignment
University of Delaware Physical Therapy
Patellar Realignment — (Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy)
UW Health Sports Medicine