Tag Archives: sports medicine

Biceps Tendinitis

Biceps Tendinitis is a common shoulder pathology which usually develops in younger athletic population due to repetitive overhead injuries. The patients suffering from this condition usually have to suffer pain, lesser range of motion & strength and impaired functional mobility. This pathology develops over the time with pain located at the front of the shoulder.

What do we mean by Biceps Tendinitis?

There are two parts of biceps muscles: the long head and the short head. The long head is usually affected with tendinitis. Biceps tendinitis is known as the inflammation of the tendon around the long head of biceps muscles. The most commonly irritated tendon is the one that attaches the top of the biceps muscles to the shoulder. Biceps tendinitis results due to the repetitive stress which in turn results into irritated, swollen and painful tendon.

What causes Biceps Tendinitis?

Excessive and abnormal forces applied across the tendon results into biceps tendinitis. Apart from this, several other conditions also contribute towards developing the condition including:

  • Tension and pulling of a tendon or muscle
  • Compression i.e. pushing, pinching or shearing
  • Weak rotator cuff and upper back muscles
  • Tight shoulder joints or muscles
  • Poor body mechanics
  • Overuse from certain types of work or sports
  • Gradual wear and tear
  • Continuous or repetitive shoulder actions
  • Abrupt increase in exercise routine
  • Age- relate bodily changes
  • Degeneration in a tendon
  • A direct injury to the shoulder.

What are the potential signs and symptoms of Biceps Tendinitis?

Biceps tendinitis is common amongst the athletes involved in swimming, throwing, gymnastics and other contact sports. Workers who are involved in overhead shoulder work or heavy lifting are at greater risk. The sufferers commonly report symptoms including:

  • Sharp pain in the front of shoulder
  • Tenderness in the front of the shoulder
  • Pain radiating towards neck down the arm
  • Feeling pain after every activity
  • Weakness around the shoulder joint
  • Catching or clicking sensation near top of the biceps
  • Pain aggravating with flexion, forearm supination or elbow flexion.

What are the Physical Treatments to treat Biceps Tendinitis?

Once you are diagnosed with Biceps Tendinitis your physical therapy will develop a customized treatment program while keeping your specific goals and condition in mind.  Your physical therapy may suggest:

  • Initially RICE; rest, ice, compression and evaluation may be suggested. He may also advice to avoid the activity aggravating the condition
  • Soft-tissue therapy, electrical stimulation or ultrasound therapy may be suggested
  • Series of stretching or strengthening exercises may be suggested to regain lost range of motion
  • Postural corrections may be suggested to correct the sitting and standing posture.
  • Physical therapists may also employ hands-on therapy to gently move or mobilize your shoulder
  • Functional training would be provided to prevent future injuries. He would point out and correct your faulty movement.

Contact Active Physical Therapy for the state-of-art treatment of any of your musculoskeletal disease. Our treatment modules are planned and coordinated according to the needs, requirements and urgencies of our patients. The treatment modules co-ordinated by us will not only cure your current ailment but also pose a check on the further ones.

What is Little League Shoulder and How is Physical Therapy Beneficial to Treat the Problem?

Little Leaguer's Shoulder Little League Shoulder also referred to as Pitcher’s Shoulder or Throwing Shoulder is a type of overuse injury; commonly affecting gymnasts, pitchers and young athletes lying in the age group of 10 to 15 years. Under this condition, the shoulder pain intensifies with the stressful use of arm.

What do we mean by Little League Shoulder?

Little League Shoulder is an injury to the proximal growth plate at the upper end of the humerus at the shoulder. The growth plate is a part of the bone that grows actively as a person matures. If not treated properly, it can cause disruption in the normal bone growth. The injury to the growth plate occurs due to repetitive throwing and overhead movements of the shoulder. Children who participate actively in baseball the whole year around are more likely to be affected by this injury.

How can Physical Therapy help your child to relieve the symptoms of Little League Shoulder?

As throwing and reaching are completely bodily activities and moreover the Little-League injury is a musculoskeletal injury; advanced Physical Therapy modalities can best treat this dysfunctional problem. Physical Therapy targets at restoring the strength, function, mobility and stability to the injured player’s shoulder before he returns to his usual sports’ activities. Following treatment options may be adopted by the Physical Therapists to help the young athletes to relieve Little League Shoulder:

  • Initially, physical therapists will prescribe rest, ice and compression to reduce pain and inflammation.
  • Any of the sports’ activities of the child will be restricted for 2 to 3 months or as required.
  • Corrective Therapies will be administered to correct those mechanical faults that are causing stress to the shoulder.
  • Strengthening exercises will be suggested to restore strength and function to the muscles in elbow, shoulder, upper back and shoulder blades.
  • Soft tissue massage and Joint mobilization techniques will be employed by the physical therapists to lessen the pain and as well as tendon irritation. These modalities also help to restore normal joint mechanics.
  •  Modalities such as Ultrasound, Electrical Stimulation, Laser and Cold techniques will be used to enhance motion and to lessen the inflammation of shoulder joint and surrounding tendons’ muscles.
  • Posterior Shoulder Capsule stretches will be prescribed to enhance the flexibility of shoulder muscles.
  • Neuromuscular Re-education program; including the progressive throwing program is introduced to improve movement techniques and mechanics of the players.
  • Once the player is ready to return to the normal sports’ activities; physical therapists will educate him about correct warm-up techniques, throwing mechanic, pitch count and cool-down techniques.

Active Physical Therapy provides prompt Sports Rehabilitation Physical Therapy in one-on-one setting for the active athletes and players. Our diligent and compassionate physical therapists help the athletes to get back to their sports’ activities as more vigorous and better than before.