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Biceps Tendinopathy, Sports Medicine

Daniel C. Herman, MD, PhD, FAAPMR, FACSM, CAQSM and Giorgio A. Negron, MD Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Overuse injury of the long head of the biceps muscle

  • Initially begins as inflammation in the tendon sheath known as tenosynovitis and then progresses to tendon degeneration and disord...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Anterior shoulder pain localized over the bicipital groove, which may radiate distally toward the biceps

  • Pain is aggravated by overhead activities or lifting objects.

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Point...

TREATMENT

Acute treatment: 
  • Rest, ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and/or acetaminophen

  • Rest should not include prolonged immobilization because this may lead to adhesive capsulitis (...

REFERENCES

1
Churgay CA. Diagnosis and treatment of biceps tendinitis and tendinosis. Am Fam Physician.  2009;80(5):470–476.
2
Donaldson O, Vannet N, Gosens T, et al. Tendinopathies around the elbow...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Ahrens PM, Boileau P. The long head of biceps and associated tendinopathy. J Bone Joint Surg Br.  2007;89(8):1001–1009.

  • Friedman DJ, Dunn JC, Higgins LD, et al. Proximal biceps ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Primary biceps tendinitis is very rare and thought to be ~5% of cases.

  • Performing the uppercut test and biceps groove tenderness together has the highest sensitivity and specificity to ...

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