Help with bicep tendon - The Physio Forum - the home of online physiotherapy discussion

BRETTY1 · #1 18-04-2007, 11:56 PM

Hi to all im after some help and advice i stretched my bicep tendon 2years ago. And it jumps when i move my arm in certain ways ive been advised not to get a operation. As had camera put in and the only thing that is wrong is its been stretched not torn. Im wanting any advice' exercises' stretches' the stretch is above the forearm and just below the bicep muscle. Thanks for any help that anyone can offer

wutti · #2 19-04-2007, 09:25 AM

hi, could you please descibe your problem a bit more detailed? what does it mean, it jumps when you move the arm? how was the mechanism of injury? what kind of problem do you have, pain, limited range of motion etc.? 2 years ago is a long time for a stretch? or did i understand something wrong?
cheers

BRETTY1 · #3 19-04-2007, 01:06 PM

Hi.It jumps at the top of the bicep its like the bicep tendon is now to long so theres movement inside.
The injury occured while doing dumbell chest press and i tryed to lower the weights to the floor while lying on my back without just droping them and thats how i stretched it.No thats correct the injury happened 2 years ago you seem surprised it has,nt healed but ive been told that when a tendon gets stretched it will never return to its normal size. Could you help me out with this one as its become a pain in the neck theres only pain when i wake up then as the day go,s on theres none.

wutti · #4 19-04-2007, 01:26 PM

hi, some more questions.
1.which movement causes pain? is flex/ext. of the elbow or pronation/supination of forearm.
2.What kind of pain is it? sharp, burning etc.?
3.do you have free ROM?
4.can you provocate the pain?
5. do you have any loss of strength?
6. when contracting biceps, does it look different compared to the other side?
7. is the sensation more lat. or med. in the proximal forearm?
it would be really unusual if you biceps tendon lengthens so much after stretching it. a rupture would be more common. but maybe something else is wrong!!? Lig of elbow or lig. alaria. please descibe the region and answer the questions.
cheers

jwilso · #5 20-04-2007, 11:01 AM

could this be a rupture of the transverse humeral ligament and the long head of biceps could be subluxing in and out of the bicipital groove? probably nothing you can do for it some 2 yrs down the line though.

BRETTY1 · #6 24-04-2007, 12:03 PM

Hi no its a stretched bicep tendon for sure as had camerea in and there was no rupture.
Thats when i had to see a physio and within seconds he explained that it was stretched yes when it got stretched the tendons came out of the grooves they have since been put back to normal

alophysio · #7 24-04-2007, 12:13 PM

Hi,

If the tendon is truly lengthened, then it needs to shorten. I have never seen this problem before but to shorten it, you will need to keep your elbow straight and your shoulder held in forward flexion. Your hand will need to be turned out so the thumb is pointing out.

This is pretty radical action of course. I can't even guarantee that the tendon will get shorter. You won't be able to use your arm properly if immobilised so you may develop other shoulder problems.

In other words, can you live with it???

wutti · #8 24-04-2007, 12:49 PM

hi, I think that would only shorten the muscle. never heard that an overstretched tendon or lig. can be shortend. That one reason why joints are getting instabile after repetitve trauma.

I think i got something wrong before, thought the problem is in the elbow region.

cheers

alophysio · #9 24-04-2007, 01:50 PM

quite possibly - i am not sure of the answer. But have you heard of a tendon stretching too far? Perhaps it is damage to the connective tissues in the muscle that is the problem?

How does a tendon lengthen so far as to become a problem like this without signs of damage?

If it is truly lengthened, then you should see a difference in the length-tension relationship. Therefore, his power generation should be better in increase shoulder extension - say 10 degrees. This should take up the extra slack and should be about the same as the contralateral side with the same weight - well worth a try!

BRETTY1 · #10 30-04-2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutti

hi, I think that would only shorten the muscle. never heard that an overstretched tendon or lig. can be shortend. That one reason why joints are getting instabile after repetitve trauma.

I think i got something wrong before, thought the problem is in the elbow region.

cheers

Your right a stretched tendon or lig cannot be shortened to its normal size so once stretched theres no turning back