Your bicep muscles have two tendons, one attached to the shoulder bones and the other attached to the elbow’s radius bone. Injuries to biceps muscles are either in the form of tendon tears or tendonitis.
Defining Bicep Tendonitis
Regardless of tendons being tough, overusing them will cause them to become painful and sore. This is often caused by tears in the tendons known as tendonitis. Tendonitis can be caused by muscle overuse and repetitive motion.
Professional swimmers, baseball players, golfers, and tennis players are at the risk of suffering tendonitis in their elbows, shoulders, and arms. It’s triggered by serious and sudden loading of the tendons.
You will either have tendonitis at the elbows or in the shoulders. It’s uncommon to have tendonitis in both places simultaneously. Shoulder tendonitis is often accompanied by rotator cuff tendonitis, which is part of the rotator cuff complex.
Causes
Damage to bicep tendons is often caused by normal activities in our lifetime. The tendons weaken as we age due to everyday wear and tear. The degeneration process can, however, be worsened by overuse or repetition of the same shoulder motion.
Most routine chores and jobs can result in overuse damage. Sports that require repetitive shoulder movements such as tennis, baseball, and swimming can also increase the risk of suffering bicep tendonitis.
Symptoms
• Achiness or pain on the upper arm bone
• Tenderness or pain in the front shoulder. The pain often worsens with overhead activities and heavy lifting
• Occasional sensation or snapping sounds in the shoulder.
Examination for Bicep Tendonitis
When seeking treatment for biceps tendinitis in Frisco TX, your doctors will use the following examination procedure:
Physical Examination
The doctor will request you to discuss your symptoms before examining your shoulder. During the examination procedure, the doctor assesses the shoulder for range of strength, and motion in a bid to look for any sign of shoulder instability.
In treatment of biceps tendinitis in Frisco TX, the doctor will perform other examination tests aimed at checking the functionality of your biceps. He may apply pressure over the region where the bicep tendons attach to the shoulder. Most patients with bicep tendonitis will have swelling and tenderness in this region.
Imaging Tests
The doctor can also apply imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis. X-rays, for example, are a great way to show other complications with the shoulder joint. Images obtained using ultrasound and magnetic response imaging (MRI) help with showing problems within the soft tissues of your bicep tendons.
Preventing Bicep Tendonitis
Bicep tendonitis is preventable. You can achieve this by following the following tips:
1. Allow yourself sufficient time for your muscles to recover between activities.
2. Before commencing any activity, take time to stretch and warp up your muscles.
3. Avoid repetitive tasks or motions that are likely to cause bicep tendonitis.
4. Take up a workout schedule that allows you to build flexibility and strength. The schedule should be regular, and please make sure that you practice the proper techniques when working out to avoid causing tissue and muscle damage.
Call POSMC today!
To schedule an appointment with one our specialists, contact our scheduling department at 972-250-5700 or request an appointment online.
POSMC is a full-service medical facility specializing in the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic injuries. The practice is led by a group of 12 board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. Contact us today!