Dr. Mitchell W. Larsen MD
Director of Education
Central Utah Sports Medicine
1055 N 500 W Bld C Ste 121
Provo, UT 84604
(801)373-7350

POST-OP PROTOCOL FOR LATERAL EPICONDYLE DEBRIDEMENT

Phase I

• Immobilzation only for comfort

• AROM (pain free) for shoulder/elbow

• Modalities for pain, inflammation edema

• Patient education: avoid/limit ADL stressing extensor tendon mechanism

Phase II (approximately 6 weeks postoperative)

• Begin light multijoint shoulder, scapula, elbow strengthening (avoiding positions of elbow extension)

• Begin strengthening of wrist flexors/forearm pronator in protective arcs

• Begin AROM for wrist extension

• Begin flexibility exercises for wrist extensor mechanism

Phase III

• Advance to resistive wrist extension/radial deviation/forearm supination with elbow flexed (monitoring symptoms)

• Continue strengthening for full upper extremity

• Continue flexibility exercises

Phase IV

• Continue aggressive upper extremity strengthening

• Begin wrist and forearm strengthening with elbow in extension

• Continue flexibility exercises

• Begin activity specific, functional exercises, neuromuscular drills, and endurance training

Phase V

• Begin sport-specific interval program

• Biomechanical or ergonomic assessment and adjustment

• Maintenance program for strength and flexibility