Prevention and rehabilitation of overuse injuries of the elbow

Rehabilitation from injury and prevention of injury are terms that describe differing aspects of the same challenge. The clinician must be continually aware of the principles of rehabilitation and their order of priority (prevent further damage, restore motion, restore strength, reestablish coordination) while supervising patients' progress toward their goals. If patients are made aware of these principles at an early stage, and taught to take as much responsibility as possible for their own rehabilitative course, they will be more likely to reach their own ideal compromise of safety and speed of progress. In addition to helping with rehabilitation from injury, knowledge and self-awareness that patients obtain during this process may help in the prevention of future injuries.