Post-Op Rehabilitation Protocols

Rehabilitation after an arthroscopic or open Bankart repair: sling for six weeks, motion in stages, strength from week six, full activity by six months.

After anterior or posterior shoulder stabilization: sling four to six weeks, staged motion limits, strengthening from month three, sport from month four.

After cervical fusion or disc replacement: a month of rest, neck motion and posture work, strengthening from month one, full activity at six months.

Rehabilitation after lumbar fusion: early walking and posture work, core strengthening from month one, running from month three, full activity at six months.

Rehabilitation after lumbar laminectomy or diskectomy: early walking and posture work, core strengthening from month one, full activity at six months.

Rehabilitation after periacetabular osteotomy: partial weight bearing for six weeks, crutches until walking is normal, running and sport from the fourth month.

Patient handout for the weeks after hip replacement: what to avoid, what to do, permanent precautions, and when sports can resume.

Rehabilitation after a posterior-approach hip replacement: six weeks of hip precautions, walking aid weaned as gait normalizes, free activity by month three.

Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with meniscus repair: limited bending and crutches for six weeks, sport at six to nine months.

Rehabilitation after bone-tendon-bone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: brace for four weeks, running from month three, all activities by six months.

Rehabilitation after isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: full motion by six weeks, jogging from month three, return to sport at nine months.

Rehabilitation after meniscus repair: brace and limited weight bearing for six weeks, full weight by twelve weeks, jogging no earlier than sixteen weeks.

After arthroscopic knee surgery: weight bearing as tolerated from day one, full motion by six weeks, sport and fitness testing from three to six months.

After knee dislocation reconstruction (lateral side or chronic): brace locked four weeks, no active knee bending for six, full activity at twelve months.

After knee dislocation reconstruction (medial side or acute): continuous passive motion and locked brace for four weeks, full activity at twelve months.

After lateral or posterolateral corner knee reconstruction: brace locked straight for four weeks, brace off at eight weeks, full activity at six months.

After medial collateral ligament repair or reconstruction: hinged brace for eight weeks, partial weight bearing for six weeks, full activity at six months.

After medial patellofemoral ligament repair or reconstruction: brace opened in stages over nine weeks, weight bearing as tolerated, full activity at six months

After patellofemoral microfracture: brace limited to twenty degrees and no resisted exercise for six weeks, running at three months, full activity at six.

After tibiofemoral microfracture: toe-touch weight bearing and no resisted exercise for six weeks, running from three months, full activity at six months.

After patellar tendon repair: brace locked for walking, knee bending to 90 degrees by six weeks, jogging from month four, cleared by nine to twelve months.

After posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: brace for three months, locked straight for eight weeks, running by month five, full activity at nine months.

After accessory navicular excision: cast with no weight bearing for four weeks, walking boot to week eight, brace to month four, full activity at six months.

After Achilles tendon repair: boot with heel lifts for six weeks, brace from week seven, no running before four months, full activity by six to nine months.

After ankle arthroscopy: splint and crutches for ten days, then weight bearing as tolerated, running from month two, full activity at four months.

After ankle arthroscopy with microfracture: no weight bearing for six weeks, boot to eight weeks, running and agility drills from twelve to fourteen weeks.

After modified Broström ankle reconstruction: cast then walking boot for six weeks, no running before three months, full activity at four to six months.

After fasciotomy for chronic compartment syndrome: no weight bearing for four weeks, walking by week six, running from month three, cleared at four months.

After posterior tibial tendon reconstruction: no weight bearing for four weeks, walking cast and boot to week ten, brace to month six, cleared at nine months.