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When the bicep muscle works too hard, often from overuse, it can cause small tears and inflame its tendons, leading to biceps tendonitis (or bicep tendinitis). If you have an upper arm injury or are experiencing pain in your biceps, then here are some of the causes, symptoms, and treatments of biceps tendonitis that you should consider.

Causes of Biceps Tendonitis

Biceps tendonitis is most commonly caused by excessive overhead motion. Athletes who frequently swing and rotate their arms are more susceptible to this injury. Specifically, swimmers, baseball players, and tennis players are at risk of biceps tendonitis.

Aging is another cause of biceps tendonitis. As we age, our muscles weaken due to everyday wear and tear. Sudden trauma to the biceps tendon can also happen at any time. Trauma-related accidents can lead to a variety of injuries, including biceps tendonitis.

Biceps Tendonitis Symptoms

Biceps tendonitis occurs in the elbow or the shoulder. While it is uncommon to have the condition in both parts of the body at the same time, it’s possible you have biceps tendonitis if you feel the following symptoms:

• Tenderness or pain in your front shoulder, which worsens with physical activity or lifting
• Snapping sounds or sensations in your shoulder
• Pain or aches moving along the upper arm bone

It’s important to treat bicep tendonitis when you have it. If you seek treatment soon after your injury, you’ll be free of pain faster and your recovery process will be shorter.

Treatments for Biceps Tendonitis

Depending on its severity, there are a variety of doctor-recommend treatments for biceps tendonitis, such as:

1. Ice – Cold packs or ice cubes will reduce swelling, easing pain caused by biceps tendonitis.
2. Medications – Aspirin or ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory medications available over the counter to treat biceps tendonitis.
3. Rest – Avoiding heavy lifting or flexing over the head will allow the bicep muscle to heal and fully recover.

Physical therapy is another option for treating biceps tendonitis. Physical therapists will be able to work with you to help you regain mobility with treatment options suited to your needs.

Contact Our Biceps Tendonitis Treatment and Physical Therapy Experts

If you’ve suffered a bicep injury or any type of orthopaedic ailment, the team at Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine is here to help with non-invasive treatments, surgical intervention solutions, and physical therapy recovery methods to get you back to your daily routine free of pain. Request an appointment with us online or give us a call today at 904-825-0540.