Bicep Injury from Discuss Bodybuilding.com
A torn bicep can really hamper your training, work, and home life. I hope that as you read this you discover that you are not injured. However, if you think you might be injured take a look at the information on this site.
Bicep tendonitis is quite common, with some of the members of DB already having the misfortune of suffering from it. For those who dont know what it is, and for those who think they might have it, here is some info about it. As with everything else, this does not replace your doctors orders. This is merely some information to help you understand what caused/causes the injury and give u a general idea of how its managed and treated.
What is bicep tendonitis?
Biceps tendonitis, also called bicipital tendonitis, is a general term used to describe inflammation, pain, or tenderness in the region of the biceps tendon in the front part of the shoulder or upper arm.. Biceps tendinitis rarely occurs alone, but rather is typically associated with rotator cuff pathology and impingement.
What causes biceps tendonitis?
1) Repetitive overuse
2) Multidirectional instability
3) Calcifications into the tendon
4) Direct trauma
Injury or compromise of a single muscle of the dynamic shoulder stabilizers can adversely affect other muscles and impair function of the entire joint.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain in the front of your shoulder pain when you move your arm and shoulder, especially when you move your arm forward over shoulder height. - You feel pain when you touch the front of your shoulder.
- Often, pain will also at night
- Difficulty with lifting and carrying things (e.g. groceries, garbage bags)
Athletics that involve the affected arm may be curtailed, such as swimming, tennis, and throwing sports.
Tendon rupture typically occurs at the bony attachment or tendon-labral junction.Impairment of physiologic Bicep Injury repair mechanisms by medications (statins) has also been proposed as a potential factor predisposing the tendon to rupture.Pathophysiology The biceps muscle and its tendons are some of the most superficial structures of the arm.The biceps muscle then continues down the arm within the intertubercular groove, covered by a synovial outpouching of the joint capsule.At its proximal attachment, the biceps has 2 distinct tendinous insertions on the scapula from its long and short heads.These structures account for a significant portion of shoulder injuries and a smaller number of elbow injuries.Because biceps rupture is often the final event in a cascade of impingement and inflammation, testing for impingement syndromes and bicipital tendinitis always is warranted.The dominant arm is involved more commonly, probably because it is used more often than is the nondominant arm.Introduction Background Tendon ruptures of the biceps brachii, one of the dominant muscles of the arm, have been reported in the United States with increasing frequency.A tendon rupture due to chronic inflammation can occur in rheumatoid arthritis.Bicep InjuriesAge Age may vary considerably in patients with biceps rupture, but typically, the patient with a rupture caused by impingement or chronic inflammation is in the fourth, fifth, or sixth decade of life.Distal ruptures also initially result in pain, followed by reduced strength in supination, elbow flexion, and grip strength.The remaining ruptures occur distally at the insertion on the radial tuberosity or, even less commonly, at the short-head insertion on the acromion.As mentioned, rupture of the proximal biceps tendon comprises 90-97% of all biceps ruptures and almost exclusively involves the long head.Younger individuals may rupture the biceps tendon following a traumatic fall, during heavy weightlifting, or during sporting activities (eg, snowboarding, football).The short head arises from the coracoid process with the coracobrachialis, while the long head originates from the supraglenoid tubercle and Bicep Injury passes over the humeral head within the capsule of the glenohumeral joint.Excessive loading or rapid stress upon the tendon, such as in weightlifting, often causes an acute tendon rupture.Perform an examination to identify any palpable tenderness along the course of the biceps tendons and muscle belly, including the bicipital groove with the arm in 5-10 º of internal rotation.Distal ruptures may present in a similar fashion, but in most of these cases, symptoms or noticeable masses are located closer to the elbow.1,2 The biceps receives innervation via the musculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6) from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus.The 2 muscle bellies unite near the midshaft of the humerus and attach distally on the radial tuberosity.Perform range-of-motion (ROM) testing of the shoulder and elbow.Other persons may report experiencing recurrent pain while performing overhead or repetitive activities.The Ludington test (or position), in Bicep Injury which the hands are clasped behind the head and the biceps muscles are flexed, often is used for this purpose.Pain actually may diminish when complete rupture occurs following chronic impingement and irritation.Ruptures of the proximal biceps tendon make up 90-97% of all biceps ruptures and almost exclusively involve the long head.3 Race No correlation exists between race and the incidence of biceps rupture.Anatomy Because of its size and its orientation about the shoulder and elbow joints, the biceps muscle is involved in functional activities of the upper limbBicep Injury .
Mortality/Morbidity Overall consequences of biceps rupture may differ among various demographic groups.The injury is experienced most commonly by individuals aged 40-60 years with a history of shoulder problems, secondary to chronic wear of the tendon.
The distal tendon blends with the bicipital aponeurosis, which affords protection to structures of the cubital fossa, allowing distribution of forces across the elbow to lessen the pull on the radial tuberosity.At present, no evidence exists of a male or female predisposition to biceps rupture due to anatomic or genetic factors.Still others experience a nondescript anterior shoulder soreness that may worsen at night.Acute avulsions are the result of forceful extension of the elbow from a flexed and supinated position.Other maneuvers, such as the Speed test and Yergason sign, are used, along with signs of biceps dislocation or instability, to identify patients who may have partial tears or who may be predisposed to future rupture.7,8,9 * Most ruptures occur at the tendinous insertion to the bony anchor, proximally and distally:10 o Distal avulsions from the radius commonly are caused Bicep Injury by chronic irritation on an irregular surface, such as in persistent cubital bursitis.The major impairment resulting from proximal biceps rupture involves limitations due to pain during the acute phase, but impairment ultimately relates to a decrease in strength during shoulder flexion, elbow flexion, and forearm supination.Frequency United States As previously noted, biceps rupture has been reported in the United States with increasing frequency.Patients also may be asymptomatic and note only a visible or palpable mass between the shoulder and elbow.Rare short-head rupture may occur with rapid flexion and adduction of the arm during elbow extension activities.Physical When biceps rupture is suggested on the basis of history or mechanism of injury, physical examination should include specific testing of all types of shoulder and elbow pathology within the large list of possible diagnoses.Clinical History Patients with biceps rupture may report a wide variety of symptoms, including the following: * Some
patients report a sudden pain in the anterior shoulder during activity.Repeated insults often lead to fraying of the tendon, with resultant weakness predisposing it to rupture following relatively minor injuries.Inspect the shoulder and arm contour and compare with the contralateral side: o Bicep Injury Pay special attention to the region of the bicipital groove, which may show indentation or hollowing when the tendon is absent following a rupture.Causes * A proximal biceps rupture generally is caused by insidious inflammation from impingement in the subacromial region and may be the eventual result of chronic microtrauma in this manner.Sex Men suffer biceps rupture more commonly than do women, but this difference may result primarily from vocational or avocational factors.Perform complete strength testing of upper limb muscles, especially the biceps.This acute pain, frequently described as sharp in nature, may be accompanied by an audible pop or a perceived snapping sensation.4,5,6 Acute traumatic ruptures may occur in younger individuals or in anyone engaged in predisposing activities.A thorough examination should include evaluation for several possible signs.This may be related to impingement phenomenon.Biceps tendon rupture or Bicep Injury degeneration frequently is associated with rotator cuff trauma in the geriatric population and is often observed at the time of surgery for complete rotator cuff tears.
