(08) 7008 7566
(08) 7118 5399
physio@upplus.com.au
177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023Biceps Tendinopathy
The biceps has tendons at both ends, and either can become painful. At the shoulder, the long head runs through a groove at the front and is a common source of front-of-shoulder pain; at the elbow, the tendon can be irritated by repeated heavy lifting. Both respond to graded loading, and both are frequently found alongside a rotator cuff problem.
What causes it
- Repeated overhead reaching or lifting
- A sudden heavy lift, particularly with the palm up
- An underlying rotator cuff problem changing how the shoulder moves
- Age-related tendon change
- Heavy resistance training with rapid progression
What you might notice
- Pain at the front of the shoulder, sometimes running down the upper arm
- Discomfort lifting with the palm facing up
- An ache that is worse after activity than during it
- Tenderness to press in the groove at the front of the shoulder
- Occasional clicking as the tendon moves in its groove
How we treat it
- Progressive loading of the tendon in the range that provokes it
- Rotator cuff and shoulder blade strengthening, since the cuff is usually involved
- Manual therapy and soft tissue work for symptom relief
- Modifying rather than stopping the aggravating activity
- Technique review for lifting and training
- Referral for imaging where a rupture is suspected
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment. If your pain followed a significant injury, is getting worse, or comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss, please see your GP.
Front-of-shoulder pain is rarely just the biceps
The biceps tendon is usually irritated because something else in the shoulder has changed. Finding that is what stops it recurring.
Or call us on (08) 7008 7566 — we see patients across Seaton, Modbury and Stepney.