Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair Rehabilitation Protocols
18 Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair rehabilitation protocols from 17 institutions, published 2011–2025. Weight-bearing progressions vary by institution — compare them in the table below before selecting a protocol.
Compare by institution
| Institution | Weight-Bearing | Key Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Gundersen Health System (GLSM) — Patellar / Quadriceps Tendon… | PWB with brace locked in full extension wks 0-2; WBAT brace locked at 0 wks 2-6, off… | ROM 0-30 deg wks 0-2, 0-60 wks 2-4, 0-90 by wk 6, full ROM by wks 10-12; avoid lunges and knee extensions in… |
| Lahey Hospital & Medical Center — Quadriceps / Patellar… | WBAT in brace locked in extension wks 1-6; wean immobilizer wks 6-12 | No knee flexion >90° wks 2-6; brace off ~12 wks; no running until 16 wks |
| Mammoth Orthopedic Institute — Quadriceps Tendon Repair | WBAT with crutches and brace locked 0 deg at all times x6 weeks; brace gradually opened… | PROM 0-30 deg only x2 weeks; no active knee extension x6+ weeks (begins at wks 9-10); brace locked 0 deg at… |
| Massachusetts General Hospital — Patella / Quad Tendon Repair | WBAT with hinged knee brace locked in extension Phase I; FWB with brace locked in… | Hinged brace locked in extension at all times (ambulating, sleeping, standing) Phase I; no active knee… |
| Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center — Quadriceps… | FWB with brace locked in extension x 6 wks; typically WB with TROM open x 1-2 wks prior… | No flexion >90 deg x 6 wks; no forced flexion x 8-10 wks; no loaded CKC quad strengthening x 6 wks; OKC… |
| Ortho Utah — Patellar / Quad Tendon Repair | WBAT with crutches and brace locked in extension 0-6 wks; brace opened to 30-40 deg… | Brace locked extension at all times except exercises x 6 wks; 0-90 deg knee motion wks 3-6 with no active… |
| Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists (OSMS) — Knee… | WBAT in locked brace x6 wks Phase I; weight bearing without TROM brace as quad function… | No active knee extension Phase I (quad sets in extension only); no loaded knee flexion Phase I; avoid knee… |
| Saint Louis University (SLUCare) — Quadriceps / Patellar… | WBAT with brace locked in extension; brace progressively unlocked after wk 6 | WBAT with brace locked in extension wks 1-6 (HEP); passive ROM to 0-70 deg by wk 6; unlock brace 0-40 deg at… |
| Sanford Health — Patellar or Quadriceps Tendon Repair | WB in locked brace (full extension) with crutches; FWB by wk 4; brace opened to 0-90° at… | No active knee extension x 6 wks; locked brace at all times x 6 wks; PROM 0-90° by wk 10, full motion by wk… |
| SOMOS (Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons) — Patellar… | Brace locked ext for ambulation; ROM 0-30° wks 1-2, NWB ROM 0-60° wk 3 progressing 10°/wk… | ROM 0-30° wks 1-2, 0-60° wk 3 progressing 10°/wk; brace locked ext for WB; avoid tendon overload (squatting… |
| Sutter Health / Palo Alto Medical Foundation — Quadriceps… | FWB with crutches in brace wks 1-8; FWB without crutches months 2+; brace locked 0° wks… | ROM wks 1-2 determined by intra-operative assessment; brace locked 0° wks 1-6; no WB in flexion >90° wks 2-8… |
| UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine… | WBAT in extension only wks 2-6; brace locked in extension; progress WB ROM as phases… | Active flexion 0-45° with passive extension wks 2-4; brace locked in extension at night throughout; ROM to… |
| University of Delaware Physical Therapy — Quadriceps and… | Full WB with immobilizer weeks 1-2; immobilizer until no quad lag and ≥ 90° flexion… | No MVIC with quad tendon repair until 8-12 weeks; no MVIC with patellar tendon repair until 6-8 weeks… |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) Sports Medicine — Extensor… | WBAT with brace locked in extension; progress to FWB as swelling and quad recruitment… | Brace locked in extension Phase I; ROM and brace progression goals set by surgeon (typically 0-90 deg by… |
| University of Virginia Orthopaedic Surgery — Quad Tendon /… | FWB with brace locked at 0° using crutches for 4 weeks; wean crutches after 6 weeks | Brace locked 0° for first 4 weeks (lock to 90° when sitting); no active knee ROM; no active knee extension… |
| University Orthopedics (Brown University) — Quadriceps /… | PWB with 2 crutches and brace locked in full extension wks 0-2; WBAT with crutches and… | Knee immobilizer or hinged brace to protect repair; PROM 0-30 deg wks 0-2, goal 90 deg by 6 wks; SLRs only… |
| UW Health Sports Medicine | WBAT with crutches and dial brace locked in extension at all times except exercises wks… | Brace locked in extension at all times except during rehab exercises x 6 wks; knee ROM 0-30 deg passive wks… |
| UW Health Sports Medicine — Patellar Tendon and Quadriceps… | WBAT with dial brace locked in extension and axillary crutches | Dial brace locked in extension at all times except during rehab exercises; no active knee extension weeks… |
All 18 Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair protocols
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Patellar / Quadriceps Tendon Repair
Gundersen Health System (GLSM)
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps / Patellar Tendon Repair
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps Tendon Repair
Mammoth Orthopedic Institute
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Patella / Quad Tendon Repair
Massachusetts General Hospital
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps Tendon / Patellar Tendon Repair
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Patellar / Quad Tendon Repair
Ortho Utah
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Knee Extensor Mechanism Repair
Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists (OSMS)
Knee — Quadriceps / Patellar Tendon Repair
Saint Louis University (SLUCare)
Surgical — Patellar or Quadriceps Tendon Repair
Sanford Health
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Patellar Tendon Repair
SOMOS (Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps Tendon / Patellar Tendon Repair / Patellar Fracture ORIF
Sutter Health / Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps Tendon / Patellar Tendon Tear Repair
UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery - Sports Medicine
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps and Patellar Tendon Repair
University of Delaware Physical Therapy
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Extensor Mechanism Repair (Patella/Quad Tendon or Patella ORIF)
University of New Mexico (UNM) Sports Medicine
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quad Tendon / Patellar Tendon Repair
University of Virginia Orthopaedic Surgery
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps / Patella Tendon Repair
University Orthopedics (Brown University)
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair
UW Health Sports Medicine
Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Patellar Tendon and Quadriceps Tendon Repair
UW Health Sports Medicine