What is Biceps Tendonitis?

Tendons are cord of fibrous tissue which connects a muscle to a bone. The biceps muscle is located in the front part of the upper arm and attaches at the elbow and in two places at the shoulder. Biceps tendonitis, also called bicipital tendonitis, is inflammation that causes pain in the front part of the shoulder or upper arm.

How does Biceps Tendonitis occur?

Biceps Tendonitis is more likely to affect weight lifters who over do the biceps curls. People who do a lot of writing such as students can also be prone to this injury. It is very simply, the tendon of the biceps inserts inside the elbow and can become inflamed if it is overused.

Symptoms of Biceps Tendonitis:

• A thickening and redness over the biceps tendon.
• Pain or discomfort when you bend the arm against resistance.
• Pain or discomfort on the inside of the elbow when you write.

Treatment of Biceps Tendonitis:

• Rest until injury is cured.
• Apply heat and use a heat retainer.
• See a sports injury specialist who could provide some anti-inflammatory medication.
• If it pains a lot then get an injection of a corticosteroid medication to reduce the inflammation and pain.
• See a physical therapist who could advise some rehabilitation exercises.

When can I return to my sport or activity?

The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon and as safely as possible. But, if you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Returning to your sport or activity will be determined by your recovering ability, the sooner your shoulder recovers, the soon the soon you can recover to your sport or activity. Returning to your sport or activity is not by how many days or weeks have passed since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms of the injury, the longer it will take you to get better.

You may safely return to your sport or activity when:

• Your injured shoulder has full range of motion without pain.
• Your shoulder has regained normal strength.
• You are able to write easily.
• In throwing sports, you must gradually start throwing. This means you should start with gentle throwing and gradually start throwing harder. If you are playing contact sports then, your shoulder must not touch anybody and you should start pushing from minimal contact to harder contact.

Prevention of Biceps Tendonitis:

You can best prevent biceps tendonitis by doing a proper warm-up and stretching exercises for your arm and shoulder before your activity.

What can a sports injury specialist do?

• Provide some anti-inflamatory medication.
• Prescribe rest until injury is cured.
• Apply ultrasound or laser treatment.
• Prescribe some exercises to do 3-4 times a day to cure injury fast.
• Prescribe a full rehabilitation program.
• Operate if it is too bad.