Quadriceps Tendon Repair
WEEK 1-2:
Weight Bearing
- Full Weight Bearing with leg in brace, using crutches to aid with walking and for balance
Brace
- Locked at 0° extension at all times during the day except when doing exercises
- Locked at 0° during the night
ROM
- Dr. Roth will tell you the range of motion allowed based upon intra-operative assessment
- Range of Motion permitted is 0° - ______
Therapeutic Exercise
- Flexion: Heel slides to permitted flexion (see ROM)
- Knee flexion exercises to permitted flexion in prone position, with gravity extension
- Extension: Passive knee extension using towel roll, prone hangs
- Strengthening: Quad setting with knee support, Straight leg raises with brace locked in extension, plantarflexion/ dorsiflexion, eversion/inversion strengthening
WEEK 2-4:
Weight Bearing
- Full weight bearing, brace locked in extension at all times when weight bearing
Brace
- Continue to wear hinged knee brace locked in extension all day and night, except when doing exercises
ROM
- 0-60°
Therapeutic Exercise
- No weight bearing exercise at flexion angle > 90°
- Continue prone knee flexion exercises
- Continue SLR, quad sets
- Add side lying hip, core and glut
WEEK 4-6:
Weight Bearing
- Full weight bearing, brace locked in extension at all times when weight bearing
Brace
- Continue to wear hinged knee brace locked in extension all day
- May remove brace at night and when doing exercises
ROM
- 0-90°
Therapeutic Exercise
- No weight bearing exercise at flexion angle > 90°
- Continue prone knee flexion exercises
- Continue SLR, quad sets
- Continue side lying hip, core and glut
WEEK 6-8:
Weight Bearing
- Full Weight bearing when wearing brace as directed
Brace
- Week 6: Unlock brace 0-45°
- Week 7: Unlock brace 0-60°
- Week 8: Unlock brace 0-90°
ROM
- Continue to advance to full painless ROM
Therapeutic Exercise
- No weight bearing exercise at flexion angle > 90°
- Continue prone knee flexion exercises
- Continue SLR, quad sets
- Continue side lying hip, core and glut
MONTH 2-3:
Weight Bearing
- Full weight bearing without crutches
Brace
- None
ROM
- Full
Therapeutic Exercise
- Advance strengthening
- Stationary bike when able
- Hamstring work
- Continue core/hip/glut
- Balance, proprioception
- Closed chain
MONTH 3-6:
Weight Bearing
- Full weight bearing
Brace
- None
ROM
- Full
Therapeutic Exercise
- Advance exercises and functional activities
- OK to swim
- Gradual return to sport
- Home Maintenance Program
