Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Patellar / Quadriceps Tendon Repair

Gundersen Health System (GLSM) · Gundersen Lutheran Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

PWB with brace locked in full extension wks 0-2; WBAT brace locked at 0 wks 2-6, off crutches by wk 4; WBAT brace unlocked 0-45/60 deg wk 6, 0-90 wk 7; wean brace wks 8-10

Key Restrictions

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 gym program wks 12-16; leg extension from wk 16, 30-0 deg progressing to full ROM as patellofemoral mechanics normalize; running starts in pool at wk 16

Timeline & Phases

5 phases: Phase I (0-6 wks, maximum protection), Phase II (6-12 wks, progressive ROM and early strengthening, bike and pool), Phase III (12-16 wks, progressive strengthening, gym program), Phase IV (16-20 wks, advanced strengthening and functional drills, pool running to land), Phase V (20-24 wks, plyometrics and return to sport, sports test for return to competition)

Notes

Covers both patellar and quadriceps tendon repair; aggressive patellar mobilizations from wk 0; submaximal quad sets from wk 0; adapted from Rosenberg Cooley Metcalf (Park City, Utah); D/C crutches with normal heel-toe gait and good quad control

Surgeon / Author

Gundersen Lutheran Sports Medicine

Published

2019