Physiotherapy Department, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Athens, Greece; Hellenic Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy Education (HOMT Edu), Athens, Greece.
Hellenic Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy Education (HOMT Edu), Athens, Greece; Department of Health Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Health Sciences, PhD in Physiotherapy Program, University of Nicosia, Cyprus.
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2024 Apr;38:329-338. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.01.031. Epub 2024 Feb 2.
The mechanism of injury and the conservative rehabilitation of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow (UCL) are well studied and reported in overhead athletes, while research on gymnastic athletes is sparse. Evidence suggests exercise as the mainstay in UCL injury rehabilitation. With this report, we aimed to provide a complete rehabilitation protocol following a partial UCL tear of an acrobatic athlete, where exercise and adjunct treatments, such as manual therapy, were used in a progressive staged rehabilitation.
A 16-year-old female acrobatic athlete was diagnosed with partial tear of the anterior band of UCL. The rehabilitation included progressive exercise loading in conjunction with manual therapy for 10 sessions in 8 weeks. Pain, UCL special tests, the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score Questionnaire (DASH), and the Upper Limb Functional Index (ULFI) were assessed and administered at baseline and at 3, 6, 10 weeks, and 3 months.
Improvement in all outcome measures was noted at the 3-month follow-up indicating a substantial reduction in pain and disability, and an increase in stability of the elbow joint. Return to training was achieved at 8 weeks from the initial visit, while return to sport at the pre-injury level was achieved at 3 months.
Progressive exercise loading along with the addition of manual therapy is an effective intervention for the rehabilitation and return to sport following a partial UCL tear. A progressive staged rehabilitation guideline for acrobatic athletes with UCL injuries has been provided to be used and guide clinical practice.
Level IV.
肘部尺侧副韧带（UCL）的损伤机制和保守康复在投掷运动员中得到了很好的研究和报道，而体操运动员的相关研究则很少。有证据表明，运动是 UCL 损伤康复的主要方法。通过本报告，我们旨在为体操运动员的 UCL 部分撕裂提供一个完整的康复方案，其中包括运动和辅助治疗（如手动治疗），以渐进的分期康复方式进行。
一名 16 岁的女性体操运动员被诊断为 UCL 前束部分撕裂。康复包括在 8 周内进行 10 次渐进的运动负荷练习，同时结合手动治疗。在基线时以及 3、6、10 周和 3 个月时，评估并进行了疼痛、UCL 特殊测试、手臂、肩部和手功能障碍问卷（DASH）和上肢功能指数（ULFI）。
所有评估结果在 3 个月的随访中均得到改善，表明疼痛和残疾明显减轻，肘关节稳定性增加。从初次就诊开始的 8 周内恢复训练，而在 3 个月时恢复到受伤前的运动水平。
渐进的运动负荷练习加上手动治疗是一种有效的干预措施，可用于 UCL 部分撕裂的康复和重返运动。为 UCL 损伤的体操运动员提供了渐进的分期康复指南，以用于指导临床实践。
IV 级。
