Inflammation of biceps long head may also be referred to as inflammation of the long tendon of the biceps. The condition is medically referred to as biceps tendonitis or biciptial tendinitis. Tendonitis is just the medical term to denote inflammation of a tendon.
Anatomy As It Relates To The Biceps Long Head
The biceps muscle is the large long muscle located at the front of the upper arm; it’s the muscle you feel on top when flexing your arm to make a muscle. The muscle is divided into a long and short head. The tendon of the long head biceps muscle, also called the long tendon of the biceps, is the main tendon. It’s a strong cord-like structure that goes across the glenohumeral joint and attaches at the top of the glenoid (shoulder socket) area on the scapula. In other words, it attaches the upper biceps muscle to a shoulder bone. When the biceps muscles are in use, they pull on one end of the tendon. The opposite end of the tendon pulls on the attached bone, thereby causing movement to take place. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint comprised of the humerus, scapula, and clavicle bones. The head of the humerus fits into the glenoid. A combination of four muscles and tendons make up the rotor cuff, which serves to support the glenohumeral joint. The long tendon of biceps also helps to stabilize the glenohumeral joint by helping to keep the humeral head from sliding too far forward or upward within the glenoid.
What Is Inflammation Of Biceps Long Head?
As mentioned above, inflammation of biceps long head tendon is medically referred to as tendonitis. As inflammation persists, the tendonitis may progress to a thickening of the tendon or tendon sheath. This may even lead to the tendon tearing or rupture.
What Causes Inflammation Of Biceps Long Head?
The most common cause of inflammation of the long tendon of the biceps is overuse. All tendons slowly weaken from wear and tear over a lifetime. The natural tendon degeneration is compounded when tendons are overused from repetitive motion. The biceps long head tendon is often overused from repetitive overhead motions, such as painting, swim strokes, throwing a ball, hitting a tennis ball, and so forth. In fact, this injury is most common among rowers, throwers, golfers, weight lifters, swimmers, and racket sports. However, it can occur from any hobby or work-related activity that involves frequent arm motions, especially repetitive overhead motion. Inflammation usually occurs gradually when related to overuse.
Biceps tendonitis may also occur from a direct injury, such as a blow to the biceps or a fall where the top of the shoulder is struck. In this case, the onset of inflammation is much more sudden.
Since overhead overuse is often involved in many shoulder problems, biceps tendonitis is often seen secondary to or along side several other shoulder problems:
* rotator cuff tears
* osteoarthritis
* torn transverse humeral ligament
* chronic shoulder instability
* tears in the glenoid labrum
* shoulder impingement
* shoulder dislocation
What Are The Symptoms Of Inflammation Of Biceps Long Head?
* deep ache over the top and front of the shoulder that may radiate through the biceps muscle (the pain shouldn't pass the elbow though)
* mild to moderate pain at the front of the shoulder
* pain is generally worse during shoulder movements, especially those overhead
* pain is usually relieved by rest
* the arm may feel weak
* there may be a slipping, snapping, or catching felt over the upper biceps/shoulder area
* local tenderness over the tendon
Strengthening Exercises
These Inflammation of the Long Tendon of the Biceps Exercises are ideal to build strength and flexibility.
Massage Treatment
These Inflammation of the Long Tendon of the Biceps Massage Techniques are of great value in pain relief; circulation stimulation; dispersing blood and fluid accumulations; swelling reduction; and relaxing muscle spasms, especially when used alongside the Sinew Therapeutics liniments, soaks and massage oil.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage is characterized by swelling, redness, pain, and possibly a local sensation of heat, indicating inflammation. If coolness makes your pain feel better, then the Acute Stage Treatment is recommended.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The acute stage starts the moment an injury occurs and lasts until the swelling and inflammation are gone. The swelling is the result of the blockage of blood, tissue fluids and circulation in the shoulder because their normal movement has been disrupted by the force of the injury. Just like cars back up behind a traffic jam, causing congestion, exhaust and overheating; blood and fluids back up behind the injured shoulder, causing pain, inflammation, lumps and swelling.
The sensation of heat is due to the warming action of the blood and fluids overheating in the injured shoulder as they back up and accumulate. Stiffness and decreased mobility are due to spasms in tendons and ligaments that have contracted reflexively beyond their normal range from the impact of the injury.
As ligaments and tendons stretch and tear, blood from ruptured blood vessels becomes trapped in the local tissues. As the trapped blood clots up, it sticks the tissues together creating adhesions. Adhesions cause pain, inflammation and restricted movement because the layers of tissue that used to slide smoothly across one another now adhere and snap which interferes with normal functioning. It is essential to break up clotted blood as quickly as possible to prevent adhesions and scar tissue from forming.
During the acute stage it is very important to restore normal circulation to the shoulder, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, reduce swelling, and reduce the redness and heat associated with inflammation. By restoring the flow of blood, fluids, and circulation in the shoulder, then pain is relieved, damaged tissues can regenerate with healthy functional tissue, and the shoulder can strengthen and regain it's mobility.
ACUTE STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Apply the Sinew Herbal Ice on your shoulder to reduce redness, swelling, and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to help restore normal circulation to the shoulder. This first-aid treatment is used in place of ice to significantly speed up the healing process. It reduces the swelling and inflammation more effectively than ice, allowing you to more quickly regain range of motion. Acute Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
Ice is not recommended because it does not help repair damaged tissues and keeps everything in the injured area frozen, causing the stagnation of blood and fluids and the contraction of muscles, tendons and ligaments. In Chinese sports medicine ice is not used and is considered a culprit in injuries that don’t heal well.
2. Massage your shoulder with Acute Sinew Liniment to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, and stimulate circulation of blood and fluids to help cells quickly repair damaged tissues. Sinew Herbal Ice can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel pain, stiffness, weakness, and/or sensitivity in cold and damp weather. If heat makes your pain feel better, then the Chronic Stage Treatment is recommended.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The chronic stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel aching pain and stiffness. This is because there are still accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids in your shoulder that are blocking circulation and blood supply to damaged tissues, creating residual pain, stiffness and weakness. You may actually feel hard nodules like sand in the tissue, indicating accumulation, calcification, and adhesions, which all cause pain, stiffness, and joint instability.
Your shoulder may feel more sensitive to the cold and ache in cold and damp weather due to impaired circulation. When you move your shoulder you may hear a clicking or popping sound from the tendons and ligaments slipping very slightly in and out of their natural alignment indicating weakness and joint instability, causing chronic pain and a cycle of reinjury. These symptoms are often the result of failure to treat the injury properly from the outset and over-icing.
Increasing circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues is very important in treating chronic injuries because tendons and ligaments do not have an extensive direct supply of blood. That is why chronic injuries can be slow to heal. Increasing local circulation also prevents cold and dampness from penetrating the injured area, preventing pain and stiffness.
During the chronic stage it is very important to break up remaining accumulations of blood and fluids, and increase circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues. By increasing circulation and blood flow in the shoulder, then pain and stiffness is relieved, and the tendons and ligaments can strengthen to restore stability.
CHRONIC STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Massage your shoulder with Chronic Sinew Liniment to relieve pain and stiffness, strongly stimulate circulation and blood flow to damaged tissues, and promote the healing of overstretched tendons and ligaments. Sinew Injury Poultice can be used in-between applications.
2. Apply the Sinew Injury Poultice on your shoulder to relieve residual pain and stiffness, significantly stimulate circulation and blood flow to damaged tissues, and further promote the healing of overstretched tendons and ligaments. The Sinew Injury Poultice is particularly useful if your shoulder is more painful in cold and damp weather. Chronic Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
