YOUR NEXT THROW
NEEDS A PLAN BEHIND IT.

Inside-elbow pain can change how an athlete approaches every throw. The first priority is understanding the current presentation and whether the athlete is following a nonoperative plan, recovering from UCL repair, or progressing after reconstruction.

Those paths are not interchangeable. Restrictions, healing timelines, throwing progression, and return decisions depend on the diagnosis or procedure, the surgeon's guidance, the athlete's position, and how the arm responds.

At Valen, Dr. Keagan Barrett works one-on-one with throwing athletes to rebuild capacity, monitor relevant measures, and prepare for a progressive return to practice and competition. Testing adds information. It does not replace medical coordination or reduce readiness to one number.

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WHY VALEN

HOW VALEN WORKS

OBJECTIVE STRENGTH TRACKING

VALD DynaMo, handheld dynamometry, and grip dynamometry may be used at selected checkpoints to understand strength and tolerance. The measures selected depend on the athlete and stage.

FULL-HOUR 1-ON-1 SESSIONS

UCL rehab receives a full hour of one-on-one attention with Dr. Keagan Barrett at every in-person visit.

MEASURED RETURN TO THROW

Throwing progression considers procedure or injury, position, workload history, symptoms, recovery response, strength, motion, and current throwing demands.

KINETIC CHAIN APPROACH

The evaluation considers the elbow, shoulder, trunk, lower body, throwing movement, and workload. Findings are treated as relevant contributors, not universal causes.

CONSERVATIVE OR POST-SURGICAL

Nonoperative rehab, repair with internal brace, and reconstruction require different plans. Valen follows the athlete's diagnosis, procedure, and medical guidance.

BUILD THROWING CAPACITY

The plan develops the capacity required for throwing and prepares the athlete for a progressive return to practice and competition without promising a specific outcome.

THE PROCESS

WHAT WORKING TOGETHER LOOKS LIKE

01

COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION

Dr. Keagan reviews the diagnosis or procedure, surgeon guidance, symptoms, throwing history, position, mobility, strength, workload, and current function. Imaging is reviewed when available and interpreted by the appropriate medical provider.

02

PROGRESSIVE REHAB

One-on-one sessions restore relevant motion and develop strength, power, endurance, and whole-body capacity. Selected measurements help show what is changing and what still needs attention.

03

RETURN TO THROW & COMPETE

Throwing volume, distance, intensity, pitch or position demands, and recovery are progressed in context. Return to competition is coordinated with the athlete's medical and performance team when applicable.

ATHLETE EXPERIENCES

WHAT ATHLETES SAY

"Keagan has been instrumental in helping my son properly rehab little league elbow pain from baseball and then move on to strength and performance training with him to prevent it from happening again. His knowledge is so extensive, and my son really enjoys working with him."

AMANDA BRYAND

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can a UCL injury heal without surgery?

Selected partial UCL injuries may be managed without surgery. The appropriate path depends on the tear, sport, position, competition level, symptoms, throwing demands, medical evaluation, and response to rehab. Valen can measure current capacity and coordinate with the athlete's physician, but does not determine surgical candidacy alone.

How long is Tommy John surgery recovery?

UCL reconstruction commonly requires a long staged rehab and throwing process, often around a year or longer. The procedure, surgeon protocol, healing response, position, competition level, and readiness measures shape the timeline. UCL repair with internal brace follows a different progression, and nonoperative care is different from both surgical paths.

What does UCL rehab look like at Valen?

UCL rehab is delivered one-on-one with Dr. Keagan Barrett. The plan reflects the athlete's procedure or diagnosis, symptoms, mobility, strength, throwing history, position, and current workload. VALD DynaMo, handheld dynamometry, grip dynamometry, motion analysis, and PitchLab may be used at selected checkpoints when they answer a useful question.

How do I know if I have a UCL injury?

Pain on the inside of the elbow during throwing, reduced tolerance for volume or intensity, changes in performance, instability, or neurological symptoms can justify an evaluation. These symptoms are not specific to one diagnosis. Imaging decisions depend on the presentation and should be coordinated with the appropriate medical provider.

What causes UCL injuries in athletes?

UCL injuries in throwing athletes are multifactorial. The evaluation considers throwing workload, symptoms, strength and mobility, movement strategy, recovery, position, competition demands, and recent changes in throwing. No single factor explains every UCL injury.

CLINICAL SOURCES

EVIDENCE BEHIND THIS PAGE

These resources support the general education on this page. They do not replace an individual evaluation, a surgeon's protocol, or medical advice from the athlete's care team.

Conservative Treatment After Partial UCL InjurySports Health systematic review
Rehab and Return to Sport After UCL ReconstructionAmerican Journal of Sports Medicine systematic review
Return-to-Competition Criteria After UCL ReconstructionAmerican Journal of Sports Medicine systematic review and meta-analysis

RELATED CONDITIONS WE TREAT

Throwing Shoulder Pain
Elbow Pain in Baseball
Arm Care for Throwers
Return to Sport Programs
Rotator Cuff Injuries

LEARN MORE

Tommy John Surgery Recovery: What Athletes Should ExpectElbow Pain in Baseball PlayersBaseball Arm Care Should Match the Athlete

START WITH A
CLEAR CONVERSATION.

If this sounds like your situation, a free 15-minute call is the easiest way to find out if Valen is the right fit. The clinical evaluation is a separate 60-minute visit.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION