UPPER EXTREMITY WEIGHT-TRAINING MODIFICATIONS FOR THE INJURED ATHLETE- A CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE

The ability of the health care professional to make correct decisions about the progression of weight-training is critical to the rehabilita tion process. The purpose of this article is to describe our approach to modification of weight-lifting techniques using the injured shoulde r as a model. Additionally, the impact of various upper extremity weig ht-training techniques on healthy athletes is discussed. The effects o f grip, hand spacing, bar trajectory, and start and finishing position s on microtraumatic injury and return to weight-training activities af ter injury are considered. Several weight-training functional progress ions for common multijoint exercises (such as bench press, shoulder pr ess, power clean) are presented. Adaptations for periodization are als o presented for implementation in the rehabilitation sequence. The wei ght-training modifications described in this paper will assist the hea lth professional to safely return athletes to the weight room after sh oulder injury.