Throwing Programs and Return to Sport

Return to a throwing sport after elbow or shoulder injury can be a daunting task. Return to play rates after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction have been favorable but lower than once thought ( ). Many studies show a high return rate to major league baseball, but return to similar performance and workload is not as high ( ). Return to throwing after surgical treatment for superior labral lesions is even more debilitating and sometimes unattainable ( ).

When helping guide patients back to throwing activities, a criteria-based algorithm should be followed that encompasses all aspects of the throwing motion and accounts for the physical characteristics of the athlete.