The document discusses bicep tears, including causes such as overlifting or falling on an outstretched arm. Treatment options include ice, anti-inflammatory medications, rest, and rehabilitation exercises. Surgery is rarely needed but may help with complete recovery of strength. Prevention methods include maintaining strength in the shoulder, elbow, and forearm muscles and limiting repetitive overhead lifting over 150 pounds. Rehabilitation follows a timeline starting with passive exercises and progressing to active range of motion and resistance exercises over 8-12 weeks.

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