Surgical — Pectoralis Major Repair

Sanford Health

Weight-Bearing

N/A – upper extremity

Key Restrictions

No stretching (horizontal ABD, extension, ER) or squeezing (horizontal ADD) immediately; sling 3 wks (bone-to-tendon) or 4 wks (tendon-to-tendon); ER limited to 30° in neutral Phase III; no adduction/hand behind back in protected phase; push-ups (elevated) at 10 wks; bench press at 12 wks; pull-ups at 14 wks; dips at 16 wks; heavy pec/chest flies at 24 wks; slower progressions for tendon-to-tendon and partial repairs

Timeline & Phases

6 phases: Maximum Protection (0-2 wks, PROM 0-90°), Protected Motion (3-6 wks, PROM >90°, AAROM at wk 5), Motion and Muscle Activation (6-9 wks, AROM, light strengthening), Advanced Strengthening (9-12 wks, eccentrics, push-up progression), Advanced Movement and Impact (3-6 months, sport-specific, BB bench at phase end). Full PROM 12-16 wks (bone-to-tendon) or 14-16 wks (tendon-to-tendon)

Published

09/2025