Biceps Tendinitis Treatment In Athletes

A tendon is a tough, fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bone. The biceps brachii has two tendons connecting it to the shoulder and one tendon connecting it to the radius bone at the elbow. The biceps tendon and the biceps brachii aid in flexing the elbow and rotating the forearm. Biceps tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendon that connects the long head of the biceps brachii to the shoulder. The condition is typically caused by repetitive overhead movements or throwing motions like in baseball and football. There are several treatments that can be used at home or under a doctor's guidance for athletes to treat this condition.

Causes and Symptoms

In athletes, biceps tendinitis can be caused by a severe blow to the shoulder, as in football, excessive repetitive motions of throwing, as in baseball, or overtraining the biceps when exercising. Initial signs or symptoms of biceps tendinitis are pain and swelling in the upper biceps, which is caused by the inflammation of the tendon. Another prevalent symptom of biceps tendinitis is a popping sound in the upper biceps and shoulder region, particularly when doing biceps curls, throwing or raising your arm above your head.

Rest, Ice and Medications

Rest and ice therapy are often recommended as a first line of treatment. Athletes are encouraged to avoid heavy lifting, take time off from their respective athletic events and to apply ice packs to the biceps region. Rest and ice therapy are prescribed to reduce the inflammation of the tendon and prevent further damage like a tear or rupture. Oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen can be prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation in addition to rest and ice treatments.

Stretching and Strengthening

Your doctor may recommend physical therapy in addition to rest, ice and medications. Physical therapy for biceps tendinitis typically consists of stretching and strengthening exercises like biceps curls to relieve inflammation and pain. According to the Sports Science Orthopaedic Clinic, stretches like the towel stretch will improve limited mobility from the pain and swelling, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow and improve overall shoulder joint health. The towel stretch is done by using a bath towel and rolling it up lengthwise. Hold one end of the towel in your non-injured arm and drop the other end over your shoulder and behind your back. With your injured arm, reach behind your back and grab the dangling end of the towel. With your non-injured hand, pull the end of the towel directly upward as you extend your elbow. The extension of the elbow will pull the towel and the injured arm that's holding the other end behind your back. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times throughout the day.

Surgery

If the tendinitis is severe and doesn't respond to any of the other treatments, surgery will likely be needed. The procedure is performed by opening up the sheath that covers the tendon and removing the inflamed tissue, the Cleveland Clinic explains. In most cases, the patient will recover and be able to regain full range of motion. However, athletes might have to limit overhead movements or impact sports until the tendon has fully recovered, the time for which varies by individual.

Caution and Prevention

To prevent tendinitis, athletes need to gradually improve their levels of strength and conditioning so they are using a weight or repetition range that's reflective of their performance level. If you experience any pain, swelling or popping in the general area of the biceps, stop your physical activity and seek medical attention. If tendinitis goes untreated or undiagnosed, the weakened tendon can lead to serious injuries like a complete tear.