Mississauga and Oakville Pain Clinic offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and orthotic services to residents of Churchill Meadows InMississauga
Mississauga and Oakville Pain Clinic offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and orthotic services to residents of Churchill Meadows InMississauga
The biceps is a muscle that runs along the front of your upper arm from your shoulder to the radius bone in your forearm. It is important for flexing the elbow and “supinating” the forearm (turning the palm towards the ceiling).
The biceps tendon can tear or rupture from its insertion site in the forearm when lifting a heavy object. While sometimes it may be due to underlying weakening of the tendon, or tendinitis, it often tears without any prior warning or symptoms.
Diagnosis
Patients oftentimes report a “pop” or “tearing” sensation in the front of their elbow associated with pain. There is frequently bruising along the front and inside of the elbow and arm. If the tendon retracts up the arm after tearing, there may be asymmetry between the two arms as one biceps muscle belly sits higher up the arm – the so-called “Popeye deformity”. Biceps tendons are usually palpable, but this is no longer the case after a tear. Other symptoms include pain and weakness when flexing the elbow or supinating (“rotating”) the forearm. An MRI will show the injury, but is not always necessary to make the diagnosis.
Non-Surgical Treatment
A completely torn biceps tendon cannot repair itself over time. Elbow flexion strength may be acceptable after a tear because there are other muscles still present that bend the elbow. However, when the end of the biceps tendon is no longer attached to bone, patients oftentimes have loss of endurance, fatigue during elbow flexion, and may experience cramping or discomfort when bending the elbow. Weakness with rotation (supination) tends to persist, which is noticed with activities such as turning a screwdriver or doorknob. While surgery is not absolutely required, it is oftentimes recommended.
Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
Weeks 0-2 (rest): After surgical repair, rehabilitation may vary slightly from case to case. Typically, a non-removable splint is placed in the OR that holds the elbow bent at 90 degrees for the first 2 weeks after surgery. This allows the tendon to start healing back to the bone.
Weeks 3-6 (motion): After ~2 weeks, elbow motion exercises are initiated. At this point, a removable elbow splint is used when sleeping and for activities. The splint is removed during the daytime for light use of the arm. During this phase, the goal is to restore normal motion of the elbow and arm. A therapist is sometimes used. While the elbow can be used between weeks 2 and 6, a common recommendation is to lift nothing heavier than a cup of coffee.
Week 6 and beyond (strength): At 6 weeks after the surgery, strengthening exercises are usually initiated. A therapist may be helpful. Early on, we start with gentle exercises (2-5 pound biceps curls) and progress from there.
3-4 months (full activities): The goal is full activities and normal use of the arm starting 3-4 months after surgery. It can take many months to return to pre-injury strength and endurance, but most people get there. Good rules of thumb include “listen to your body”, and “if it hurts, don’t do it”.
If you or someone you know has had a biceps tendon rupture, call our clinic today for a free consultation! 905-593-1605