Well with my surgery I had that screw that was exposed and very sensitive even to a flick for over a year... So i sat our football wasn't taking a helmet to the elbow ha. Umm yes I'd start with body weight after rehab. Just Pushups, not too heavy but helps strengthen and not stress the elbow too much. I'd recommend tons of lower body. The term building from the ground up. It all starts from a solid base and core. The rest will come from supporting the weight