Sling |
When will I go home? |
What can I do? |
What can’t I do? |
| Elbow brace 8 weeks | You will be discharged on the day after the operation | Gentle elbow movement under physiotherapy supervision | No uncontrolled movement or lifting |
Acute phase (0-4 weeks)
Goals
- Protect healing tissue
- Decrease pain and inflammation
- Stop muscle atrophy
- Protect graft site to allow healing
Rehabilitation
- Brace: posterior orthosis at 90 degrees elbow flexion
- Initiate shoulder range of movement
- Start elbow range of movement as tolerated in a flexion extension axis from week 2
- No forearm supination beyond neutral for 3–6 weeks
Intermediate phase (4-8 weeks)
Goals
- Gradual increase to full range of movement
- Promote healing of repaired tissue
- Regain and improve muscle strength
- Restore full function of graft site
Rehabilitation
- Brace: elbow hinged brace 60–100 degrees (gradually increase elbow flexion and increase extension 15 degrees at 2 week intervals)
- Begin range of movement with neutral or pronated forearm
- Begin light resistance exercise for arm (1 kilogram maximum)
- Wrist curls, extension
- Elbow extension–flexion
- Progress shoulder program emphasize rotator cuff and scapular strengthening
- Initiate shoulder strengthening with light resistance
Late phase (>8 weeks)
Rehabilitation
- Brace: discontinue hinged brace by end of week 8
- Initiate eccentric elbow flexion and extension
- Progress elbow range of movement
- Restore elbow stability
- Ensure maintenance program continued for range, strength, proprioception and function
Guidelines for return to functional activities
Driving |
Lifting |
Swimming |
Golf |
| 3 months | 4 months | 8 weeks | 6 months |
