Training with bicep injuries

[Mark James]

I train a guy who has torn the long head on both biceps from the bone (ruptured tendons). He elected to not do surgery at the time and now the window is closed to reattach the tendons. His sports medicine doctor cleared him for weight lifting and competitive squash training and we’ve been training for about a year (his injuries occurred about 6months before starting with me).

Any pointers on what to or not to do?

I’ve been keeping bicep movements to hammer curls and preacher curls with no problems so far. I don’t necessarily plan to change anything since he doesn’t have any issues but I’ve always wanted to ask someone with more experience/knowledge on the subject.

I’ve also wondered what can be expected progress wise. I’ve kept the intensity low to moderate though he seems up for increasing and matching the higher intensity of his other body parts.

One final question, Is the short head more likely to tear too since it’s presumably taking on more work?

[Mark James]

**tears are at shoulder, not elbow**

[Joe]

I train a guy who has torn the long head on both biceps from the bone (ruptured tendons). He elected to not do surgery at the and now the window is closed to reattach the tendons. His sports medicine doctor cleared him for weight lifting and competitive squash training and we’ve been training for about a year (his injuries occurred about 6months before starting with me).

Any pointers on what to or not to do?

I’ve been keeping bicep movements to hammer curls and preacher curls with no problems so far. I don’t necessarily plan to change anything since he doesn’t have any issues but I’ve always wanted to ask someone with more experience/knowledge on the subject.

I’ve also wondered what can be expected progress wise. I’ve kept the intensity low to moderate though he seems up for increasing and matching the higher intensity of his other body parts.

One final question, Is the short head more likely to tear too since it’s presumably taking on more work?

[Mark James]

Thanks for all the info. Definitely will keep in mind the end range caution you mentioned.

He tore one of the long heads while playing squash with a rotator cuff injury (he was actually waiting for rotator cuff surgery but was still able to play squash…one hard awkward swing of the racquet and down toward the elbow went the belly of the bicep…surely the rotator cuff injury probably contributed to the bicep tendon tear in some way, shape or form). Sadly, the surgeons didn’t reattach the bicep while they had his shoulder cut open because it wasn’t on their to do list or some story like that.

He tore the other while breaking up a dog fight (he abruptly grabbed a 50lb dog by the hind legs and raised it over his head.

[George Foskolos]

Mark James wrote:

Thanks for all the info. Definitely will keep in mind the end range caution you mentioned.
He tore one of the long heads while playing squash with a rotator cuff injury (he was actually waiting for rotator cuff surgery but was still able to play squash…one hard awkward swing of the racquet and down toward the elbow went the belly of the bicep…surely the rotator cuff injury probably contributed to the bicep tendon tear in some way, shape or form). Sadly, the surgeons didn’t reattach the bicep while they had his shoulder cut open because it wasn’t on their to do list or some story like that.
He tore the other while breaking up a dog fight (he abruptly grabbed a 50lb dog by the hind legs and raised it over his head.

Hey Mark, I have partially teared the left long head of the biceps in July but both my shoulders hurts and wondering if u can share what upper body exercises you put him through for chest/back/shoulders and what modifications you made to them just to have an idea? Was thinking neutral grip everything and not going past 90 degrees? Appreciate your input

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