Rehab usually lasts for 2 months. It takes about 3 to 4 months for your biceps muscle to heal. You may be able to do easier daily activities in 2 to 3 weeks, as long as you don't use your injured arm. Most people who work at a desk job can return to work in 1 to 2 weeks.
The most common symptom of a bicep tear or strain is a sudden burst of pain in the upper arm near the shoulder. You could also hear a “popping” sound as the tendon tears. Other signs that you may have torn a bicep tendon can include: Weakness in the shoulder.
The good news is that most cases of biceps muscle strains will heal with simple home conservative treatments and surgery is often not needed!
The most important thing you can do for biceps tendonitis is to take it easy. If you feel discomfort or pain during any exercise for your tendonitis, stop and rest. You can use ice and standard pain relievers to reduce swelling and soreness.
Stretching can help you heal from a muscle strain, as long as it's not severe.
Your initial assessment should ideally be within 48 hours of your injury. Above: Gentle massage can help in the treatment for a bicep muscle tear.
If you have a partial tear that doesn't require surgery, recovery can take about three to six months. During this time, physical therapy plays an important role to help you regain strength and flexibility. If you need surgery for your bicep tear, healing can take four to six months.
Put ice or a cold pack on your arm for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. Prop up your arm on a pillow when you ice it or anytime you lie down during the next 3 days.
Since the biceps tendon takes more than 3 to 4 months to fully heal, it is important to protect the repair by restricting your activities. Light activities can begin soon after surgery. But heavy lifting and vigorous activity should be avoided for several months.
Ice helps the healing process and can continue to be an effective therapy for one or two weeks after the initial injury. If symptoms persist past the first few weeks, you can try applying heat to help with muscle stiffness.
Stand in front of a wall with a 6-inch distance and raise your injured arm palm down below your shoulder's height. Your thumb will keep your hand in place on the wall and gently turn away from the wall, stretching your biceps as you move. Keep your arm straight and hold for 15 seconds. Repeat three times daily.
If left untreated, a distal biceps rupture can lead to permanent weakness, discomfort, and even fatigue in your arm. The injury might not heal on its own, and surgery is often recommended to restore full strength and function.
The Yergason test requires the patient to place the arm at his or her side with the elbow flexed at 90 degrees, and supinate against resistance18 (Figure 2). The test is considered positive if pain is referred to the bicipital groove.
Rest the muscle for a few days or until your doctor gives you the okay. If you have a minor muscle strain, you should be able to do some gentle movement after two days. Ice. Apply ice to the injury for 20 minutes each hour you're awake.
How do you treat a muscle strain? Answer: Rest the strained muscle and apply ice for the first few days after the injury. Anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen (Tylenol) also help reduce pain and swelling.
After an acute injury, ice should be used to minimize swelling for the first two to three days. After this period, heat can be used to increase blood flow and assist the natural healing process. Applying heat too early may cause additional swelling by increasing blood flow to the injury.
To get to sleep with bicep tendonitis, it's best to sleep either on your back, or on the non-affected side – using the sleeping positions above. You can also incorporate gentle shoulder stretches into your night-time routine, making sure that you don't push yourself too hard.
Heat may be more helpful for ongoing tendon pain, often called tendinopathy or tendinosis. Heat can boost blood flow, and that may help the tendon heal. Heat also can ease pain by relaxing muscles.
Classic symptoms of biceps tendon injuries include feeling a “pop” or tearing sensation in the front of the elbow associated with pain. There may also be associated swelling and bruising in the area. At times, patients may only have a partial rupture, where the tendon is torn but incompletely.
Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have: Arm pain that doesn't improve after home care. Worsening redness, swelling or pain in the injured area.