Episode # 3 • 17 Jan 2025
Upper Extremity Rehab: Key Concepts & Techniques
Why is rehab for the overhead athlete so nuanced—and how much of the answer is hidden below the shoulder? On this episode of BackTable Bone & Sports, Dr. Larry Balle welcomes Corbin Hedt, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, to explore upper extremity rehabilitation, fellowship training in sports physical therapy, and the evidence behind advanced throwing programs. Hedt breaks down the kinetic chain from the ground up, explains why only a few accredited fellowships exist for upper extremity athletes, and shares why modern rehab is all about proximal stability leading to distal performance.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
07:43 - Nuances of Upper Extremity Rehab
14:22 - Upper Extremity Fellowship Overview
21:12 - Barriers to Fellowship Expansion
28:15 - Kinetic Chain in Throwing
33:03 - Core Control and Movement Quality
37:27 - Evaluating the Softball Pitcher
44:24 - Blood Flow Restriction Training
49:42 - BFR Protocols and Study Findings
56:06 - Injury Risk and Workload Research
1:03:37 - Imaging Findings in Asymptomatic Throwers
1:07:36 - Curveballs, Velocity and Volume
1:11:01 - Final Takeaways and Closing Remarks
Resources
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More about this episode
The discussion covers clinical decision-making for common injuries like rotator cuff tendinopathy and UCL injury, the use of blood flow restriction therapy, and how evaluation and rehab protocols are evolving with new research. They dive into the mechanics of throwing, movement quality, imaging findings in asymptomatic athletes, and what really drives youth arm injuries. The episode closes with practical pearls for trainers and clinicians, including the dynamometer trick for patient buy-in, and why looking at the whole athlete, not just the pain, matters most.
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