Biceps Tendon Tear ?

[LoyalGatorFan]

Originally Posted by GatorLegend

Trufloridagator said, " Foam rolling or going to a specialist for some ART". I'm also experiencing tennis elbow or tendonitis. Anyone know what Trufloridagator is refering to?

In your situation, you could use a lot of ice and rest...I know the rest part is probably hard for you to do if you're fairly active...the occasional anti-inflam can help as well....in the meantime, be sure you stretch your forearm extensor and flexor muscles...all you have to do is bend your wrist back/extend and push to stretch the underside of the forearm (flexors) and for the extensors its the opposite...bend the wrist down as far as it can go and give a push on the hand at the end...

ART is a manual therapy treatment..can be incorporated in massage or physical therapy...there are various methods...one can be just static compression over a tight muscle until you can get it to relax....another could be compression of the muscle followed by a stretch....

[LoyalGatorFan]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

Yeah, I'm 'some sort of trainer.' I'm studying for my CPT-ACSM but have been training people for awhile.

I've also been working to correct a fairly prominent case of kyphosis and forward head. The former has improved significantly and the latter marginally. I try to take a global approach to aches and pains. And I suspect all these measures go to provide more 'breathing room' for the rotator cuff.

Yeah I get a lot of kyphosis and FHP clients at the massage clinic...I usually tell them to strengthen the neck/upper back and stretch the front (ant. delts, pecs, scalenes) to bring the shoulders back...yeah so for you make sure you stretch delts, pecs, scalenes, biceps, etc...any muscle that attaches to the shoulder or clavicle basically...

[Dreamliner]

Loyal, glad you found the forum and I for one appreciate your contributions.

[fbgator27]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

Thanks for the feedback, Loyal. I'm doing two things to try to shore up the scapula:

(1) I push that little bit extra at the top when doing pushups, protracting the shoulder blades so as to get the serratus anterior.

(2) I pull down and back on pullups and inverted rows to hit the lower traps. I also think about driving my elbows to my sides on pullups rather than worrying about getting my chin over the bar.

As to pushups, I was actually doing one-armed pushup progressions leading up to the discovery of the bruising. Friday is my next schedule day for the one-arms. So, if I experience any marked discomfort with them I'll probably just regress to standard pushups.

Are you a PT ? Chiro ?

Sounds like you are hitting the scap stabilizers pretty well. But if you are noticing your winging at rest while not using your arm your not really catching the whole picture. Serratus is not a postural muscle that actively contracts to hold your blade to your rib cage at rest (ie. while you are standing in the mirror looking at yourself). I would check it while doing some dynamic activities to get a better idea if your firing the muscle well. If you notice winging at rest I would look more towards things like tight pec minor, a rounded back posture, or even a guarded serratus anterior.


Just another thought since you mention anterior shoulder pain and handstand pushups and one arm pushups. Its possible that you are impinging the coracoid on the humerus. If you notice the pain with these activities try turning your hands out a little and see if this makes a difference. Overhead activity with internal rotation of the shoulder could cause either the biceps or lesser tuberosity to rub the coracoid.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by fbgator27

Sounds like you are hitting the scap stabilizers pretty well. But if you are noticing your winging at rest while not using your arm your not really catching the whole picture. Serratus is not a postural muscle that actively contracts to hold your blade to your rib cage at rest (ie. while you are standing in the mirror looking at yourself). I would check it while doing some dynamic activities to get a better idea if your firing the muscle well. If you notice winging at rest I would look more towards things like tight pec minor, a rounded back posture, or even a guarded serratus anterior.


Just another thought since you mention anterior shoulder pain and handstand pushups and one arm pushups. Its possible that you are impinging the coracoid on the humerus. If you notice the pain with these activities try turning your hands out a little and see if this makes a difference. Overhead activity with internal rotation of the shoulder could cause either the biceps or lesser tuberosity to rub the coracoid.

Pec minor does tend to be tight but scap does not wing at rest. I discovered the wisdom of turning hands out quite by accident. It seems to shorten ROM during pushups and prompts me to keep my elbows somewhat tucked on both HSPU's and pushups which seems to be better for my shoulders.

But yes, the scap does wing during pushups UNLESS I consciously work to keep it retracted. But I must confess that it's VERY difficult to keep it quiet during OAP's. However, I've temporarily taken to performing them in front of a full-length mirror. No, I don't like the fact that I have to look up, but at least the mirror indicates that if I labor to keep everything tight, and the working shoulder stable, elbow tucked, and stop short of chest-to-floor, the scap remains at least better retracted. Certainly one of the keys is not to go crazy on range-of-motion and to work within my true strength capacities.

Also, while examining the x-rays, the ortho said, "Your AC looks good. Your rotator cuff has plenty of room."

[Dreamliner]

Shoulder isn't feeling too bad after yesterday's handstand pushups. Still, to hedge my bets, I may go to an upper-lower split so as to allow more recovery for the shoulders and knees. It may make more sense to do all the pressing in one workout.