UCL Repair — Elbow UCL Repair

Sutter Health / Palo Alto Medical Foundation · Kevin Roth MD

Weight-Bearing

N/A (upper extremity)

Key Restrictions

Splint 1 week; no valgus stress; sling optional wk 1-2; total body conditioning from wk 2 (after incision closed); easy tossing (no windup) at 3 months; off mound at 5 months; up/down bullpens at 6+ months

Timeline & Phases

Days 0-7: Splint, no valgus stress, full active forearm/wrist/shoulder ROM; Wks 1-4: d/c splint wk 1, sling optional, full body conditioning from wk 2 (after incision closed), achieve full elbow ROM; Months 1-2: Full ROM elbow/wrist/forearm/shoulder; light weights for resistive elbow/forearm exercises from 1 month; Months 2-3: Continue active resistive exercises for entire extremity including RC, lower body/trunk conditioning; Month 3: Easy tossing (no windup), 25-30 → 70 throws, distance 20-40 ft (4x/wk, ice after); Month 4: Easy windup, increase distance (to ~150 ft over 4-phase progression), occasional ½ speed; Month 5: Off mound ½-¾ speed (4-phase mound program 45-60 ft); Month 6+: Up/Down bullpens ½-¾ speed (game simulation with rest between innings)

Notes

Throwing athlete protocol; no publication date on PDF; easy tossing at 3 months; off mound at 5 months; bullpen simulation at 6+ months; ~3 months faster than UCL reconstruction timeline

Surgeon / Author

Kevin Roth MD