Intermediate Knee Tendon Repair Rehabilitation
A 15-week intermediate program using cable machines, ankle braces, and balance pads to aid in the recovery process.
Professional rehabilitation program designed for effective recovery and pain management.
Key facts at a glance
- Body part
- lower-limb · knee
- Injury type
- tendon-repair
- Level
- intermediate
- Duration
- 15
- Sessions/week
- 2
- Minutes/session
- 20
- Evidence level
- moderate
- ICD-10
- S83
- Cost tier
- moderate
Recovery phases
Knee swelling reduced to <2 cm circumference difference from contralateral side,Passive knee flexion to 90 degrees without pain,Quadriceps activation with visible quadriceps contraction on volitional command,No knee joint line tenderness on palpation,Full extension lag less than 5 degrees,Patellar mobility within normal limits (superior-inferior glide 1-2 cm)
→ Advance to: Phase II - Early Motion
Active knee flexion 0-110 degrees,Passive knee flexion 0-125 degrees,Full knee extension equal to contralateral side (0 degrees),MCL/LCL stability Grade I or better on valgus/varus stress testing,Weight-bearing as tolerated with crutch support,Hamstring contraction visible and symmetric
→ Advance to: Phase III - Strengthening
Active knee flexion 0-130 degrees,Single leg stance >30 seconds without loss of balance,Quadriceps strength >60% of contralateral side on isokinetic testing,No knee instability episodes during functional activities,Meniscal repair healing: no joint line clicking or locking,Cartilage tolerance: no increase in pain with weight-bearing activities
→ Advance to: Phase IV - Advanced Strengthening
Single leg squat >90 degrees knee flexion without compensation,Quadriceps strength >75% of contralateral side,Hamstring strength >80% of contralateral side,No pivot shift phenomenon on Lachman test,Patellar tendon repair: full active knee extension against resistance,Cycling 20 minutes without swelling or instability
→ Advance to: Phase V - Return to Activity
Quadriceps strength >85% of contralateral side on isokinetic dynamometry,Functional movement patterns without compensation,No knee giving way during sport-specific activities,Patellofemoral tracking without crepitus or pain,Full return to ADL without swelling,Lysholm Knee Score >80 points
→ Advance to: Discharge to maintenance program
Return to activity milestones
Pain-free basic activities of daily living
Week 4Weight-bearing tolerance increased by ≥ 25% from previous baseline
Light functional activities and conditioning
Week 6Able to ascend and descend 4 stairs with reciprocal pattern, no rail
Moderate activity and sport-specific conditioning
Week 9Pain ≤ 3/10 during and after weight-bearing functional activities
Full return to sport, occupation, and recreation
Week 15Able to ascend and descend 4 stairs with reciprocal pattern, no rail
Precautions
- warm-up-before
- avoid-overloading
Contraindications
- recent-fracture
- limited-range-before-assessment
Pain management
- Cryotherapy (ice pack application 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours)
- NSAID medication as prescribed by physician
- Patellar mobilization with soft tissue techniques
- Quadriceps relaxation techniques with biofeedback
- Compression wrapping for swelling control
Equipment & modalities
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed October 6, 2026. · Read our editorial policy