Lateral Epicondyle Debridement — Lateral Epicondyler Debridement and Repair of the Elbow

UW Health Sports Medicine · UW Health Sports Rehabilitation; UW Health Sports Medicine Physician group

Weight-Bearing

N/A (elbow surgery)

Key Restrictions

5-pound lifting restriction 2 weeks; wrist splint first 4 weeks; no gripping or impact Phase I; avoid elbow pain >4/10 during activity; post-activity soreness resolves within 24 hours; 5/5 flexor/extensor strength before Phase III

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (0-2 wks): AAROM hand/wrist/elbow, wrist splint, shoulder AROM, no gripping/impact; Phase II (3-6 wks): flexor/extensor strengthening (sub-max isometrics progressing), wrist splint until 4 wks; Phase III (7-12 wks): eccentrics, progressive muscular endurance, proximal/core strengthening, sport-specific; RTS with therapist clearance

Notes

Surgical debridement of extensor tendon degeneration at lateral epicondyle (tennis elbow/lateral epicondylalgia); larger tears may include tendon repair/suturing. Isometrics emphasized in Phase II for analgesic and strengthening effects on tendinopathy. Updated 11/2019. Copyright 2019.

Surgeon / Author

UW Health Sports Rehabilitation; UW Health Sports Medicine Physician group

Published

2019-11