Post-surgical Rehabilitation
What should I expect during my rehabilitation?
When you begin your PhyTEx/PTX recovery program, we will start your rehabilitation with gentle handgrip, and shoulder and wrist mobilization exercises. Postoperative immobilization is usually discontinued in seven to 10 days at which time we will have you begin an active range of motion for the elbow. During this early stage of rehabilitation, our Physical Therapist may advise that you to wear a special hinged brace to protect the elbow.
We will instruct you in the active range of motion exercises to be done daily. Strengthening exercises for the entire upper quadrant (shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand) are also included in the post-operative program. Although the speed of recovery varies among individuals, specific strengthening exercises to help an athlete prepare for his or her particular sport usually begin around four months post-op. Up until this time, any stress to the medial elbow is avoided.
With careful adherence to our rehab program and completing the exercises daily, pitchers can often get their full range of motion back in six to eight weeks. As you continue with your PhyTEx/PTX rehabilitation, we will progress to strength training with weight exercises. For the next four months, we will increase the weight used and start doing exercises that emphasize all parts of the arm.
Flexibility, conditioning, coordination, and strengthening are part of the daily program. You may use ice after throwing sessions to help control inflammation. We will use plyometric exercises throughout the training period. An aerobic portion of the exercise program is also advised to help the athlete return to sports at the same level (or even higher level) as before the surgery. Good, overall physical condition is important to prevent injury as the athlete returns to sports activity.
At times in your rehab and recovery, you may find it necessary to move back to a previous level of training if symptoms of pain and swelling recur. Your PhyTEx/PTX Physical Therapist will guide you through the advancement (and regression) of your program. Additional training to restore normal joint proprioception (sense of joint position) and proper throwing mechanics is also provided.
Based on long-term studies of athletes over the years, the chances of a complete recovery after surgery are estimated at 85 to 90 percent. The process of rehabilitation to return to a level of playing equal to before the injury takes about a year for pitchers and about six months for position players.
The most often used criteria for resuming full (competitive) sports participation include 1) no pain with throwing, 2) full shoulder and elbow range of motion, 3) normal forearm strength, and 4) good throwing biomechanics.
PhyTEx/PTX provides services for Physical Therapy in Odessa, Midland, Alpine, Pampa.