OT 615

1. The Power in Powerlifting: Bicep
Tear
Jessica Dillon, Chris Osborne, Courtney Vanest

2. Background of
Bicep Tears
– Tendon frays and eventually tears
– Can also tear as part of an injury
– Can happen at either the shoulder
or the elbow
– Can be complete or partial
– A complete tear means the tendon
has torn away from the bone

3. Causes
Injury
• Overlifting
• Falling on your
outstretched arm
Overuse
• Repetitive motion
• Common in
weightlifting,
tennis,
swimming, etc.

4. Treatment
Non-Surgical
– Ice
– May apply for ~20 minutes at a time
– Anti-inflammatory medications
– Helps reduce pain and swelling
– Rest
– Avoid heavy lifting and overhead
activities
– Rehabilitation
– Helps restore movement and
strengthens
Surgical
– Surgery is rarely needed for a bicep
tear but some may benefit if they
have high levels of pain or need a
complete recovery of strength
– Surgical complications are rare and
re-rupture is uncommon
– Sling immobilization following
surgery may be necessary
– Rehab!
("OrthoInfo," n.d.)

5. Prevention Methods
Maintain proper strength in shoulder, elbow, and
forearm
Limit repetitive overhead lifting, greater than 150
pounds
Use caution when lowering heavy items to ground

6. Working Out Safety
– Start new workouts with light weights
– Use good posture and stand up straight when you lift so you
don’t focus all of the weight on your biceps
– Rest for at least 1 minute in between sets to give your muscles
a chance to recover

7. Therapy Timeline
Early: Begin Passive
Codman
1
6 weeks: Begin
Active Range of
Motion
2
8 weeks  12
weeks: begin
Progressive Resistive
Exercise Program
3

8. Try it Yourself: Passive Codman

9. Daily Adaptations
– Avoid overhead reaching - move common household
objects to waist level
– Lift with your larger joints (knees, hips, etc.)
– Decrease Conservation of H  keep objects close to
body when lifting and carrying
– Respect pain! Rest when needed.

10. References
– American Physical Therapy Association. (n.d.). ChoosePT. Physical
therapy guide to bicep tendon rupture.
https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-biceps-tendon-
rupture
– OrthoInfo. (n.d.). American Academy of Orthopedic
Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/biceps-
tendon-tear-at-the-shoulder/
– The Orthopedic & Sports Institute of the Fox Valley. (2017, November
22). Codman’s pendulum exercises. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AskSmwzSmw
– wikiHow. (2020, April 18). How to prevent a bicep Tear.
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-a-Bicep-Tear