Long head bicep tendon strain

[cracked]

Hi all

Any advice on exercises to be avoided while recovering from a long head bicep injury? I don't feel any pain while performing pressing exercises, but often feel a slight ache in the front of the injured shoulder after. I already avoid any overhead pressing.

It also feels very tender while in the full stretch of a pull-up.

Deadlifts however, feel fine.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Riccardo]

Depends entirely on the nature of the injury. You're on the right track though, do things that don't hurt and avoid those exercises that do, simple as that really. A lot of shoulder exercises will hurt because the biceps tendon runs through the bicipital grove of the humerus and superior to the glenoid fossa. Your deltoid sits directly on top of it. Any shoulder flexion (raising your arm up in front of you) could potentially aggravate so avoid exercises that require it.

[I Declare War]

Yep good post Riccardo!

It can be hard avoiding those exercises that hurt, as they're usually the ones that you enjoy the most, or the ones you find the most important. You just need to temporarily give those exercises up, and then slowly work back into them. If you work back into them right, you'll come back stronger and better than you were before. I've done this process many times, it's a continual cycle for a serious trainer - you just need to learn to get good at listening to your body and become good at learning from your mistakes.

Good luck!

[cracked]

Cheers for the great responses.

I tweaked the muscle while arms were fully extended on a flat bench press warm up. I saw a physio a week later, and she advised the nature of the injury, that it was not serious and that i could continue to train (with excecption). Two months later and it still somewhat aches after weights.

Knowing people who have torn shoulder tendons, I'm vary wary of the consequences of long term damage.