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Table 3 Exercise Dosage and Progressions

From: Exercise and load modification versus corticosteroid injection versus ‘wait and see’ for persistent gluteus medius/minimus tendinopathy (the LEAP trial): a protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Stage

Exercise

Effort

Speed

Reps

Sets

Freq

Week 1- Familiarisation

Low load activations

Light

Slow onset

10

1–2

BD

Static Abduction:

 

Hold 5–10 s

   

In supine lying

Light

Slow onset

3–5

1

BD

In standing

 

Hold 5–15 s

   
 

Pelvic Control during Functional Loading:

    

daily

Bridging

Light

Moderate

10

1

daily

Double Leg Bridging

     

Functional Strengthening:

Light- SWH

Slow

10

1

 

Double leg squats

     
 

Abductor Loading via Frontal Plane Movement:

Light

Moderate

10 each

1

daily

Sidestepping

     

Week 2 – Early Loading & Movement Optimisation

Low load activations

Maintain as per week 1

Static Abduction:

 

Pelvic Control during Functional Loading:

     

Bridging:

     

Double leg bridging

Light

Slow

10

1

daily

Single leg biased ex:

SWH

Slow

5

1

 

Offset bridging

     

Functional Strengthening:

     

Double leg squats

Light

Slow

10

1

daily

Single leg biased ex:

SWH

Slow

5

1

 

Offset squat

     
 

Abductor Loading via Frontal Plane Movement:

Light

Moderate

15 each

1

daily

Sidestepping

     

Week 3–8 – Graduated Loading

Low load activations

Maintain as per week 1

Static Abduction:

 

Pelvic Control during Functional Loading:

     

Bridging:

Light

Slow

5

1

daily

Double leg bridging

Single leg biased ex

SWH – Hard

 

5–10

2

daily

Functional Strengthening:

     

Double leg squats

Light

Slow

5

1

 

Single leg biased ex

SWH - Hard

 

5–10

2

 
 

Abductor Loading via Frontal Plane Movement:

    

daily

Sidestepping

Light

Moderate

10 each

1

 

Band Sideslides

SWH- Hard

 

5–10 each

1–2

 

Week 3–8 – Graduated Loading; Sliding platform with spring resistance

All supervised by Physiotherapist in Clinic

Warm up

Abductor Loading via Frontal Plane Movement:

     

Bilateral Abduction:

    

Twice weekly

In upright

Light

Moderate

5 each way

1

In minisquat

Light

Moderate

5 each way

1

Higher level loading

Abductor Loading via Frontal Plane Movement:

    

Twice weekly

Bilateral Abduction:

In upright

SWH-VH

Slow

5–10 each way

1

 

In minisquat

SWH-VH

Slow

5–10 each way

1

 
 

Pelvic Control during Functional Loading:

Light - SWH

Moderate

5–10

1–2

Twice weekly

Scooter

  1. Repetitions (Reps); Frequency (Freq); Effort based on Borg Scale (Borg, [30]); Somewhat Hard (SWH); Very Hard (VH); Speed: Slow = 3 s each movement phase – up/down/in/out; Moderate = 2 s each movement phase; Bi-daily (BD)