Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair Rehabilitation Protocols

15 Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair rehabilitation protocols from 15 institutions, published 2014–2025. Weight-bearing progressions vary by institution — compare them in the table below before selecting a protocol.

Compare by institution

Institution	Weight-Bearing	Key Restrictions
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 / Sierra Park PT — Quadriceps…	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 in hinged brace locked in extension; D/C brace at 6-8 wks	Brace locked extension x 6-8 wks; no active knee extension x 6 wks; PROM flex guided by op note; quad tendon…
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…
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 /…	WBAT with crutches and brace locked in extension; D/C crutches when gait normal	Brace locked in extension for ambulation and sleep; no active knee extension Phase I; PROM flex: ≤60 deg…
UW Health Sports Medicine (Madison, WI)	WBAT in brace locked in extension; FWB x 6 wks in brace	Brace locked in extension for ambulation x 6 wks; brace locked in extension for sleeping x 6 wks; no active…
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…