Corbitt Annemieke D, Bandy William D
Department of Physical Therapy University of Central Arkansas.
Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2024 Aug 1;19(8):1034-1043. doi: 10.26603/001c.120900. eCollection 2024.
Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury is a common elbow injury among overhead athletes, particularly baseball pitchers. However, limited research exists for non-throwing athletes, especially regarding rehabilitation. The purpose of this case report is to illustrate the use of early weight-bearing activities into the rehabilitation protocol for non-operative management of athletes with a UCL injury.
The subject was a 17-year-old female competitive cheerleader. Two weeks prior, during the performance of an acrobatic skill in which she transitioned to full upper extremity (UE) weight-bearing, she sustained an injury to her right elbow. Physical therapy examination findings indicated a diagnosis of a UCL sprain. Self-reported outcome measures revealed a FOTO score of 69/100 and a Quick Dash score of 43/100. The subject attended 14 therapy sessions over nine weeks to address physical function and performance, which were assessed at intervals during her therapy program. Rehabilitation consisted of therapeutic exercise for the progression of UE functional weight-bearing including planks, ball push-ups, handstands, crab walks, stool pulls, handstand walks, and UE plyometric jumps.
Along with documented improvement of the standard musculoskeletal examination measures of range of motion, strength, and functional performance, the subject demonstrated no elbow instability and improved FOTO and Quick Dash scores of 98 and 0, respectively. The subject demonstrated 105% limb symmetry index with the return to sport (RTS) UE functional testing of one-armed seated shot-put throw (SSPT) and achieved normative values with the closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST).
This case report highlights the successful treatment of a subject with a UCL injury and the integration of therapy interventions with a focus on UE weight-bearing. Further research on performing high level UE weight-bearing activities during rehabilitation and RTS guidelines is needed.
尺侧副韧带（UCL）损伤是上肢运动运动员中常见的肘部损伤，尤其是棒球投手。然而，针对非投掷运动员的相关研究有限，特别是在康复方面。本病例报告的目的是说明在非手术治疗UCL损伤运动员的康复方案中使用早期负重活动。
该患者是一名17岁的女性竞技啦啦队员。两周前，在一次杂技表演中，她转换为完全上肢（UE）负重时，右肘受伤。物理治疗检查结果显示诊断为UCL扭伤。自我报告的结果测量显示FOTO评分为69/100，Quick Dash评分为43/100。该患者在九周内参加了14次治疗课程，以解决身体功能和表现问题，并在治疗过程中定期进行评估。康复包括针对UE功能性负重进展的治疗性锻炼，如平板支撑、球俯卧撑、手倒立、螃蟹步、拉凳子、手倒立行走和UE增强式跳跃。
除了记录的标准肌肉骨骼检查指标（活动范围、力量和功能表现）有所改善外，该患者未表现出肘部不稳定，FOTO和Quick Dash评分分别提高到98和0。该患者在单臂坐姿推铅球（SSPT）的运动恢复（RTS）UE功能测试中显示肢体对称指数为105%，并在闭链上肢稳定性测试（CKCUEST）中达到标准值。
本病例报告强调了UCL损伤患者的成功治疗以及以UE负重为重点的治疗干预整合。需要进一步研究在康复和RTS指南期间进行高水平UE负重活动的情况。
