Quadriceps Tendon Rupture - Initial Program

 

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About the program:

This program is aimed at patients who have undergone reconstruction surgery on their quadriceps femoris.

You may begin this program after consulting your physician or a member of our team.

The goal of the program is to prevent muscular atrophy, restore movement, and prevent bad compensatory habits.

For a full and timely recovery, it is necessary to perform the exercises daily.

 

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What the program contains:

- The program contains video playlists.

- A new playlist is loaded every day.

- The videos combine a detailed description of the exercise with a visual demonstration of how to correctly perform it.

- The exercises gradually progress in difficulty.

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42 days of rehabilitation

21 different exercises

427 videos total

 

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Necessary equipment: foam roller

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Attention!

All rehabilitation exercises are only to be performed until you feel a stretch up to a mild discomfort. Under no circumstances should you cause yourself any pain. If you feel any pain, please take a short break and resume exercising at a reduced strain level. Overexertion will slow down the recovery process!

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This program was created with the help of:

Dr. Nikolay Tivchev, M.D., Chief of Othopedics and Traumatology at Serdika Hospital

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Contact:

Please don’t hesitate to ask us your questions. Dial +359889250440 or use the chat bubble on the bottom right.

 

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The quadriceps femoris is the largest muscle in the human body. It is the primary muscle on the front of the femur. It can be subdivided into four other muscles (or ‘heads’): vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris.

The quadriceps tendon is a short and wide strip of tissue that comprises four individual tendons, each originating from its respective muscle component. At its other end it inserts into the patella. The quadriceps femoris muscle extends the knee joint.

A complete tear of its tendon is rare. It is usually the result of aggressive strain that exceeds its tensile strength, e.g. an incorrect landing after a jump in basketball. In addition to severe pain and difficulty walking, another characteristic symptom is a pronounced indentation at the site of the injury, as well as a dislocated patella. Sometimes, in the presence of other diseases, a tear could occur spontaneously, i.e. without any prior injury.

A common reason for an injury to the tendon are tripping, either when walking or climbing a ladder, or during sports. Symptoms include rapid swelling, difficulty walking, or an inability to relax the knee. In the case of a tear, the vastus medialis is most frequently affected. Such tears are likely to occur after the age of 35, when degenerative changes in the tendons begin to occur and physical activity may still be quite high.

Treatment: Incomplete tears can sometimes be treated conservatively. The leg is immobilized in an extended position for a given period that depends on the severity of the injury. After this, rehabilitation exercises can be started to restore the range of motion and strength of the muscles. Icing can be applied to reduce pain and swelling.

A complete tear warrants operative treatment. A week after the muscle tears, it can shrink to such an extent that its length becomes difficult to restore. This is why the best results can be achieved through early intervention in the first few days after the tear. Surgical treatment consists of placing a special tendon suture, after which the leg is placed in a special orthopedic brace for 6 to 8 weeks. During this recovery time, the brace is only taken off for rehabilitation procedures with a gradual difficulty progression.

At the end of the 6 to 8 weeks of immobilization, the patient may be allowed to walk on a crutch, placing some weight on the affected leg. Exercises to restore the range of motion begin around 4 to 6 weeks in, gradually building in intensity in order to avoid a retear. The goal is to restore the full range of motion by week 12, but this may vary depending on age, sex, physical condition, and any concomitant illnesses.