Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury Exercises (Elbow Rehab)

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Today's videos covers ulnar collateral ligament injury exercises. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a key stabilizer of the elbow, especially in athletes who perform repetitive overhead or throwing motions, such as baseball pitchers and tennis players. When the UCL is overstressed, it can become sprained or even torn, leading to pain, instability, and reduced performance.

Rehabilitation for UCL injuries focuses on restoring stability, strength, and function while minimizing stress on the healing ligament. In non-surgical cases, we prioritize progressive loading strategies that strengthen the forearm flexors and shoulder stabilizers to offload stress from the elbow. For post-surgical cases, such as Tommy John surgery, rehab follows a structured timeline emphasizing gradual range of motion, neuromuscular control, and progressive return to sport.

00:00 Introduction
00:30 What is the UCL and what causes this injury?
01:18 Exercise 1: Finger Flexor Strengthening
02:29 Exercise 2: Wrist Flexor Strengthening
03:52 Exercise 3: Pronator Strengthening
05:18 My Self-Guided Rehab Book