Biceps tendonitis may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Dull ache at the top and front of the shoulder
- Associated clicking or snapping in the shoulder
- Aggravated pain by combined shoulder and elbow activity
What Causes Biceps Tendonitis? Biceps tendonitis may be caused by:
- Overloading the biceps muscle, particularly caused by activities above the height of the shoulder
- Overusing the biceps muscle, particularly caused by activities above the height of the shoulder
- Wear and tear of the biceps tendon, caused by poor shoulder movement
Biceps tendon injury is typically caused by high velocity repetitive arm movements, like pitching a ball or pulling a rope, that overload the biceps tendon attachment in the shoulder. These types of injuries are often slow onset injuries that worsen over time, however, if the movement is forceful enough, they may cause immediate pain and instability. Wear and tear injury of the biceps tendon is common where there is poor shoulder movement, such as in cases of poor shoulder positioning caused by pain, fatigue, over developed shoulder muscles on one side of the shoulder, or poor activity technique. Sports Injuries Sports like baseball, cricket, sailing, throwing and weightlifting which involve repetitive, forceful movements at the top of the shoulder joint commonly cause biceps tendonitis. Sports people can still use their shoulder after sustaining biceps tendonitis and so often keep playing although the movement becomes increasingly more painful and uncomfortable. Playing sport with biceps tendonitis increases the risk of further injury. Workplace Injuries Repetitive workplace activities like painting, plastering, and pulling on ropes commonly cause biceps tendonitis injury to the top of the shoulder. Injuries of this kind may be slow to onset and worsen over time. Since the injury is gradual, workers may neglect treating the injury immediately as pain and loss of movement is only minor. Repetition of the activity which caused the condition will risk further and more serious injury. Chronic Shoulder Pain Biceps tendonitis may begin as a relatively minor condition causing pain, inflammation and swelling of the tendon, however, if you do not treat biceps tendonitis early and the cause of the condition is not interrupted over a period of 6 months or more, biceps tendonitis may progress and become a chronic condition causing chronic shoulder pain.