injuries and poisoning
Biceps Tendon Tears
Introduction
Tears may occur in the tendons that attach the biceps muscle to the bones of the shoulder or the tendon that attaches the biceps muscle to one of the lower arm bones (at the elbow). (See also Overview of Sprains and Other Soft-Tissue Injuries .) The biceps muscle has two tendons that attach to the shoulder blade (scapula) at the shoulder joint and one tendon that attaches to one of the arm bones (radius) at the elbow. The biceps tendons at the shoulder are more likely to be torn than the one at the elbow. Biceps tendon tears are caused by a sudden forceful event (such as lifting a heavy object) or forceful straightening or twisting of the elbow. These tears typically occur when the tendon is already weakened by overuse (as occurs during weightlifting). Overuse can cause the tendon to become inflamed (called Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis ) and sometimes frayed. In older people, the tendon may degenerate, increasing the risk of a tear. Other factors that can weaken a tendon may also increase risk. The injury that tears the biceps tendons may also damage other structures in the shoulder, such as the Rotator Cuff Injury/Subacromial Bursitis . The biceps tendon may be partially or completely torn. If a biceps tendon is completely torn, the tendon is completely detached from the bone. As a result, people usually cannot move their arm in certain directions. If only part of the tendon is torn, movement is unaffected, but the tendon may continue to tear and may later tear completely, particularly if people put substantial pressure on the arm. 