UCL Repair — Elbow UCL Repair — Throwing Athlete

University of Virginia Orthopaedic Surgery

Weight-Bearing

NWB surgical arm

Key Restrictions

No valgus stress; no lifting/pushing/pulling; no UCL-stressing resistance until 6 weeks; hinged EO (wk 2: 30-100°, wk 4: 10-120°, wk 6: full ROM) full time including sleep

Timeline & Phases

Phase 1 (0-2 wks): postop splint; Phase 2 (2-6 wks): hinged EO, isometric wrist/shoulder from wk 2, progressive resistance wrist/biceps/shoulder from wk 4; Phase 3 (6-14 wks): wean EO, Thrower's Ten, 2-hand plyos wk 8, 1-arm plyos wk 10, interval hitting wk 12-14; Week 16: interval throwing program

Notes

Thrower's Ten program initiated Phase 3; 2-handed plyometrics from week 8 progressing to 1-arm; interval hitting week 12-14; interval throwing program (long toss) week 16; imagery for return to sport during Phase 2

Published

09/2024