MACI Rehabilitation Skip to content

No challenge. No change.

If you’re passionate about exercise, you’re likely not afraid to take on a challenge. After the MACI procedure, rehabilitation will be your new starting line on your journey back to health. Watch Jo’s journey from injury through rehab and beyond. Where will you go after MACI?

The following is an overview of the progression for rehabilitation from MACI.*

*Individual results for rehab may vary.

Achieve routine

0–3 months

Achieving a routine
  • Return to light recreational exercise, including walking
  • Perform daily routine and activities of daily living (navigating stairs, showering, etc.) with the assistance of crutches
  • Start driving again and return to office or seated work

Build strength

3–6 months

Building strength
  • Return to low-impact recreational activities, including cycling, golf, yoga & pilates, rowing & kayaking, swimming, dancing, elliptical & treadmill
  • Return to more physically active jobs, such as nursing or construction
  • Return to daily activities that require strength and endurance

Be active

6–9 months

Being active
  • Return to pre-injury sports-based recreational activities including, running distances, skiing & snowboarding, weight training, tennis
  • Return to work for those in heavy labor fields, such as military deployment or firefighting
  • Over time, heavy impact activities such as cutting or pivoting can be reintroduced

Post-rehabilitation

9+ months

Abby, MACI patient

“My rehabilitation helped me return to running, biking, even everyday activities.”

—Abby, MACI patient*

*Paid testimonial by a MACI patient. Individual results may vary.

Recovery from MACI treatment varies greatly.

That’s why your rehabilitation program is tailored specifically to your individual goals and objectives. Everyone heals at their own rate, and cartilage will continue to mature over time. Always follow the advice of your doctor as you get back to heavy impact activities, such as cutting or pivoting.

Abby, MACI patient

“My rehabilitation helped me return to running, biking, even everyday activities.”

—Abby, MACI patient*

*Paid testimonial by a MACI patient. Individual results may vary.

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The videos are not intended to provide medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider with any questions. You should also talk to your healthcare provider before starting any exercise and to see if MACI may be right for you. Individual results will vary. Paid testimonial by a real MACI patient.

Courtney's Rehab

Taking control of my active lifestyle

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Chris's Rehab

Keeping on the right path for recovery

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Kayla's Rehab

A second chance at returning to activity

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Abby's Rehab

A college athlete returns to action

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Courtney

Courtney's Rehab

Taking control of my active lifestyle

Chris

Chris's Rehab

Keeping on the right path for recovery

Kayla

Kayla's Rehab

A second chance at returning to activity

Abby

Abby's Rehab

A college athlete returns to action

Indication and Important Safety Information

Important Safety Information

MACI should not be used if you:

  • are allergic to antibiotics such as gentamicin, or materials that come from cow, pig, or ox;
  • have severe osteoarthritis of the knee, other severe inflammatory conditions, infections or inflammation in the bone joint and other surrounding tissue, or blood clotting conditions;
  • have had knee surgery in the past 6 months, not including surgery for obtaining a cartilage biopsy or a surgical procedure to prepare your knee for a MACI implant;
  • or cannot follow a doctor-prescribed rehabilitation program after your surgery

Consult your doctor if you have cancer in the area of the cartilage biopsy or implant as the safety of MACI is not known in those cases.

Conditions that existed before your surgery, including meniscus tears, joint or ligament instability, or alignment problems should be evaluated and treated before or at the same time as the MACI implant.

MACI is not recommended if you are pregnant.

MACI has not been studied in patients younger than 18 or over 55 years of age.

Common side effects include joint pain, tendonitis, back pain, joint swelling, and joint effusion.

More serious side effects include joint pain, cartilage or meniscus injury, treatment failure, and osteoarthritis.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for more information.

Indication

MACI® is made up of your own (autologous) cells that are expanded and placed onto a film that is implanted into the area of the cartilage damage and absorbed back into your own tissue.

MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is made up of your own (autologous) cells that are expanded and placed onto a film that is implanted into the area of the cartilage damage and absorbed back into your own tissue.

MACI is used for the repair of symptomatic cartilage damage of the adult knee.

The amount of MACI applied depends on the size of the cartilage damage. The MACI film is trimmed by your surgeon to match the size and shape of the damage, to ensure the damaged area is completely covered.

Limitations of Use

It is not known whether MACI is effective in joints other than the knee.

It is not known whether MACI is safe or effective in patients over the age of 55 years.