Torn bicep injuries can occur from long-term use or sudden stress, with weight training and sports-related accidents being common causes. Treatment may involve surgery and physical therapy. Immediate treatment is important to prevent permanent damage.
Torn bicep injuries commonly occur when the tendons that attach the bicep to the shoulder or elbow tear from long-term use or sudden stress. Several factors can contribute to this injury including arthritis, weight training, or sports-related accidents. Patients often report severe pain and lack of mobility in the affected arm.
In younger to middle-aged men and women, torn biceps injuries usually occur as a result of physical activity. The most common bicep injury occurs during weight training. Preacher curls, an exercise designed to specifically target the bicep muscle, remain the most common exercise contributing to the injury.
Falling onto an outstretched arm or lifting excessive weight without warming up the muscle can also contribute to a torn biceps injury. This injury is known as a distal biceps tendon rupture. The distal tendon joins the biceps muscle to the elbow. The injury can present in a partial tear of the bicep muscle, in which the tendon frays, or in a complete rupture, which divides the tendon in two.
Biceps tears often occur in the elderly from general use over long periods of time; the injury is also common in people with arthritis. Normally, this injury arises from a fraying or rupture of the tendons that attach the bicep to the shoulder complex. People involved in long-term activity, especially overuse of the arms overhead, tend to suffer from this type of bicep tear. Manual labor and activities such as swimming and tennis qualify as examples.
The long and short end of the bicep attaches to the shoulder. The longer tendon passes through the hollow of the shoulder and is more likely to be injured. Due to the short tendon, the injury is less serious for the patient.
Minor torn bicep injuries can usually be treated without surgery. Doctors may recommend using over-the-counter medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, along with rest and physical therapy to help the patient regain strength and mobility in the injured arm.
Elbow biceps injuries tend to require more intensive care than shoulder biceps injuries. Treatment often involves surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone. The procedure is often followed by physical therapy and an exercise program. The process can take from six to nine months.
Torn biceps injuries need to be taken seriously. If ignored and the injured person continues to physically use the injured arm, permanent damage can occur. Immediate treatment and exercise will normally return the bicep to its pre-injury strength and range of motion.
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