A biceps tendon tear can happen at either the shoulder or the elbow. If a bicep tendon tear happens at the shoulder, there will be loss of arm strength and pain when you try to turn your arm from palm down to palm up). There are two classifications of biceps tendon tears: complete and partial.
What causes a Biceps Tear?
Biceps tears are generally the result of injury, such as heavy lifting or a fall, and overuse, where repetitive movements lead to frayed tendons.
Risk factors include:
- Activities/occupations requiring heavy overhead lifting
- Repetitive overhead sports (racquet sports, swimming)
- Steroid use (linked to tendon weakness)
- Advanced age
How do you know you have a Biceps Tear?
Signs and symptoms of biceps injury are:
- Sharp, sudden upper arm pain
- A pop or snap
- Cramping of the biceps muscle
- Bruising
- Shoulder and elbow weakness/tenderness
- Difficulty rotating the arm
- A bulge (due to the fact that the tendon is no longer holding the muscle in place)
How does OSI fix a Biceps Tear?
An OSI doctor who specializes in shoulder issues and conditions will talk with you about the activity that may have caused your bicep injury, then examine you. You can expect the doctor to confirm your injury as well as the severity of it:
- Physical exam: Your doctor will ask for a complete medical history and have you describe symptoms, and will then proceed with your shoulder examination. A biceps tendon tear is often accompanied by other issues, such as rotator cuff injuries, impingement, or tendinitis. Additional tests can help identify these issues.
- Imaging: An MRI will confirm the diagnosis of a biceps tear.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Pain from a biceps tendon tear often goes away, and the arm limitations/appearance may not bother someone who has a biceps injury. If there is no damage to the rotator cuff or other critical structure, nonsurgical treatment approaches include:
- Ice
- Rest
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
Surgical Treatment
Surgery for biceps tendon tears is generally not needed although your OSI physician may consider it in situations where severe symptoms of cramping and/or pain persist, as well as for athletes and workers who require a return to full strength.