Meniscus surgery rehab.
Meniscus surgery rehabilitation differs significantly depending on whether you had a repair or a partial meniscectomy. A repaired meniscus requires a protected, time-gated protocol to allow tissue healing. A meniscectomy allows earlier loading but still requires structured strengthening to protect the joint long-term. Motion Theory tailors your program precisely to your procedure.
Who It's For
Patients recovering from meniscal repair, partial meniscectomy, or combined procedures such as meniscus repair with ACL reconstruction. Both acute sport-related tears and degenerative meniscal presentations treated arthroscopically.
What We Assess
We establish your weight-bearing status, surgical protocol, and current range of motion and swelling status. Objective strength testing and gait analysis establish the baseline from which your program progresses.
Treatment Approach
Meniscectomy rehab typically allows full weight-bearing from day one and focuses on rapid strength restoration. Meniscal repair requires 4 to 6 weeks of protected weight-bearing before progressive loading. Both pathways follow objective milestones before return to sport.
Recovery Pathway
Swelling & Range
Swelling management, protected weight-bearing for repair or immediate loading for meniscectomy, quadriceps activation, and range restoration.
Strength Loading
Progressive lower limb strengthening, step patterns, closed-chain loading, and gait normalization.
Return to Sport
Limb symmetry testing, cutting and pivoting mechanics, sport-specific conditioning, and return-to-play criteria.
Clinic Location & Access
Located at 1367 West Broadway in Vancouver, Motion Theory is situated in the Fairview medical corridor, in close proximity to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). We serve patients from Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, and the broader Metro Vancouver area.
Common Questions
Does rehab differ between meniscal repair and meniscectomy?
Significantly. A repair requires 4 to 6 weeks non-weight-bearing to allow tissue healing. A meniscectomy allows immediate loading. Your protocol is dictated by your surgical report.
Will I develop arthritis after meniscus surgery?
Meniscectomy reduces the cushioning in the knee and increases long-term OA risk. This makes post-operative strength restoration particularly important, as stronger surrounding musculature reduces joint loading and slows degeneration.
How long until I can play sport again?
Most athletes return to sport between 10 and 16 weeks post-meniscectomy and 4 to 6 months after meniscal repair, using objective return-to-sport testing to guide the decision.
Related Services
Registered Clinicians
All practitioners are registered with their respective provincial colleges in British Columbia.
Evidence-Based
Treatment protocols are grounded in current peer-reviewed literature and clinical guidelines.
Direct Billing
Available for ICBC claims and most major extended health benefit providers.