Information and Treatment for Torn Bicep Muscles

My mom used to be a personal trainer and she is now a nurse, so I get to hear a lot of gruesome stories. One story she told me involved a man who tore his bicep. In this article, I will explain exactly what a torn bicep is, the signs and symptoms of a torn bicep muscle, and the recovery process. A torn bicep is the term that is used when the bicep muscle breaks off from the bone. There are partial tears and complete ruptures. A torn bicep usually occurs when the bicep muscle is fully extended and under the strain of too much weight. Failure to warm up can increase the chance of tearing a bicep muscle. The most common exercise that causes bicep tears and ruptures is the preacher curl. Now that you know what composes a torn bicep, it's important to understand the signs and symptoms that go along with a torn bicep.

If you are working out and you tear your bicep, you will notice a few warning signs. The most immediate symptom you will notice is intense, sharp pain and weakness in the muscle. Some people even hear the muscle pop. The muscle will then roll up to one side of the arm, usually toward the armpit, and create a bulge. Eventually, the arm will bruise. The injury will be extremely painful and it is important to seek medical attention before making the injury worse.

There are a few treatment options when dealing with a torn bicep. Some injuries only require physical therapy. This will allow the muscle to heal and work back up to its former condition. Other non-surgical options are putting the arm in a sling while it heals and prescribing medication to help ease the pain. A more controversial treatment option is surgery. Surgery is usually the preferred method for younger patients and athletes. This is because older patients can usually function with limited arm use for longer than younger patients. Younger patients are always on the move and want the quick fix. I personally would not opt for surgery unless it was my last option.

I hope this information about torn biceps has been informative and helpful. If you think you have a torn bicep I urge you to contact your doctor as soon as you can. Procrastination will only make the injury worse.