LECTURE 12: ELBOW COMPLEX Flashcards
What are most common things with elbow injuries?
- tendon issue
- instability
nerve involved or not?
elbow complex interventions need to be:
- sequential (gradual)
- progressive (1 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb, etc)
- multi-phase approach
elbow interventions should MAXIMIZE
FUNCTION
elbow complex research: not a lot, but top 3 are…
- lateral elbow tendinopathy
- UCLR (reconstruction)
- elbow joint STIFFNESS
What are the MOST IMPORTANT drivers of intervention strategies for elbow complex
- conservative or sx?
- desired function (ball thrower, people mover?)
- underlying pathology/trauma (RA, OA, Panner’s, sport history)
Why does the elbow joint get stiff?
We don’t walk on it, don’t use it in WB or anything if it hurts -> gets STIFF
What 3 types of return to sport UE athletes are there? (not a CPG for return to sport guidelines out there bc they are so different)
- collision athlete (football, hockey, rugby)
- incidental contact athlete (basketball)
- overhead athlete
Acute phase elbow complex rehab goals
1. protect injury site
**2. increase pain free ROM **in shoulder, wrist, hand elbow
3. improve patient comfort (decrease pain, inflamm)
4. slow mm atrophy (isometrics)
5. minimize effects of immob/activity restrictions
6. maintain general CV fitness
7. HEP independence
acute phase interventions for the elbow complex
- decrease pain and swelling
- modify activity as needed (if it hurts dont do it)
- get everything around it moving! (let pain be your guide)
- elbow flexion contracture MUST BE AVOIDED
- sub max isometrics (pump out all the swelling)
- once full pain free AROM is restored, progressive resistance exercises
For elbow acute phase interventions: PROM vs AAROM
conservative management: AAROM
surgical management: PROM
should you do submax isometrics at the elbow during acute phase if you injure an active structure or UCL repair
NO (elbow instability –> yes)
but you can do shoulder isometrics
2 criteria to transition from acute to subacute elbow rehab
- full pain free ROM
- mm strength 70% or more of other limb
subacute phase goals (functional phase)
- restore normal joint kinematics
- improve mm strength to WNL
- improve NM control
- restore normal strength (if you injure your dominant limb, need to gain that much strength, not same as other limb)
sub-acute phase interventions
- entire UQ chain moving efficiently
- CKC introduced
- dynamic mm co-contractions (PNF diagonals)
- **progress **to UE plyometrics
- onece they have more than 90% strength of other limb = gradual return to sport activities
non-dominant limb: want 10-15% weaker than dominant limb (less strength is okay)
dominant limb: needs to be ___ compare to non dominant limb
STRONGER than
not equal to
In order to gradually return to sport activities, what strength do you need in the injured limb?
more than 90% of contralateral limb
*strength, power, endurance
What are goals of the chronic phase of elbow rehab
- max function
- pay attention to yellow flags
- use multi-modal approach
UCL instability and lateral elbow tendinopathy CHRONICITY IS VERY COMMON (PAIN LONGER THAN 3 MONTHS+ )
lateral elbow tendinopathy:
degeneration of ___ seen in 1-2% of population
extensor tendon origin
most common elbow pain! etiology unclear
Is there consensus on optimal treatment for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
No, over 40 different in literature
conservative management is best/most common! KITCHEN SINK
Is surgery indicated for lateral elbow tendinopathy?
No
causes lateral elbow instability
but if symptoms over 6 months and cannot function….Sx (reattachment or debridement) but NOT POSITIVE OUTCOMES
Lateral Elbow Pain CPG
multimodal, therapy exercise
B. **ALL exercise of wrist extensors **to treat subacute/chronic LET (iso, concentric, eccentric)
F. use phased approach to reintroduce stress
B. use resisted wrist extension in combo WITH other (manual therapy) to treat subacute/chronic
C. shoulder/scap stab exercises (not 1st thing, only if there are deficits)
If they have mild-mod pain with all motion, load it as long as it doesn’t INCREASE pain
phased approach of introducing strength
- strength
- endurance (strength over time)
- Power (strength over short time)
lateral elbow pain CPG manual therapy recommendations
MANUAL THERAPY:
B. use local elbow joint manip or mob to decrease pain and increase grip strength (short term)
C. manip or mob at c-spine, t-spine, wrist as adjunct to local treatment for short term pain WHEN IMPAIRMENTS in those regions are identified.
lateral elbow pain CPG soft tissue mobs
C. soft tissue mobilizations, including manual release therapy for chronic
C. instrument-assisted soft tissue mobs + exercise for pain and function with chronic
D. cannot recommend cross friction massage