The TeMPO trial (treatment of meniscal tears in osteoarthritis): rationale and design features for a four arm randomized controlled clinical trial

Table 3 Protocolized home exercise program exercises and progression

Targeted Muscles^a	Initial	Intermediate	Advanced
Stretches	Hamstrings 2x30s^b Quadriceps 2x30s	Hamstrings 2x30s Quadriceps 2x30s	Hamstrings 2x30s Quadriceps 2x30s
Gluteus Maximus	Bent over hip extension with knee bent without weight; OR Bridging	Bent over hip extension with knee bent with weight (1–5 lbs)	Bent over hip extension with knee bent with weight (6–10 lbs)
Gluteus Medius	Side-lying straight leg lift without weight; OR Clamshell	Side-lying straight leg lift with weight (1–5 lbs)	Side-lying straight leg lift with weight (6–10 lbs)
Quadriceps	Straight leg raise without weight; OR Seated knee extension without weight	Straight leg raise with weight (1–5 lbs); OR Seated knee extension with weight (1–5 lbs)	Straight leg raise with weight (6–10 lbs); OR Seated knee extension with weight (6–10 lbs)
Hamstrings	Standing knee bent without weight	Standing knee bent with weight (1–5 lbs)	Standing knee bent with weight (6–10 lbs)
Functional	Mini wall squats	Regular chair squat	Staggered leg chair squat

^aAll exercises, except where indicated were done in 3 sets of 12 reps 4 times per week. Subjects were encouraged to begin at as low as 3 sets of 8 reps and work their way to 12 repetitions per set as tolerated
^b2x30s refers to two reps of a 30 s hold of each stretch

ISSN: 1471-2474