Biceps Tendinopathy

Original Editor - Cole Racich and Nick Tainter as part of the Temple University EBP Project

Top Contributors - Nick Tainter, Cole Racich, Abbey Wright, Lucinda hampton, Admin, Kim Jackson, Laura Ritchie, Rachael Lowe, Evan Thomas, George Prudden, Fasuba Ayobami, Scott A Burns, David Herteleer, Wanda van Niekerk, Jacob Bischoff and Vijay Rajaram

Introduction

Proximal biceps tendinopathy is the inflammation of the tendon around the long head of the biceps muscle.. Biceps tendinitus can impair patients' ability to perform many routine activities.

• Main function of the biceps muscle is forearm supination and elbow flexion.
• Biceps also contribute 10 percent of the total power in shoulder abduction when the arm is in external rotation.

The 4 minute video below shows the classic presentation of long head of biceps (LHB) tendinopathy

EmbedVideo is missing a required parameter.

Etiology

The etiology of biceps tendinopathy can be categorized into primary and secondary cases:

Primary biceps tendinopathy:

• Less common, representing about 5% of cases
• Typically seen in young athletes participating in sports like baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, and swimming
• Exact causes are not well understood

Secondary biceps tendinopathy:

• Much more common
• Associated with other shoulder pathologies, including:
  • Rotator cuff tendinitis and Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
  • Subscapularis injuries
  • LHB tendon instability/dislocation (seen in association with subscapularis injuries/tears)
  • Direct or indirect trauma
  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Internal impingement of the shoulder (“Thrower’s” shoulder)
  • External impingement/Subacromial impingement syndrome
  • Glenohumeral arthritis

The condition often develops due to repetitive overhead activities, leading to inflammation and degeneration of the long head of the biceps tendon as it travels within the bicipital groove of the proximal humerus.

Epidemiology

Primary LHB tendinitis represents about 5% of cases of proximal biceps pathology. Although much less common, primary isolated cases are typically observed in young athletes participating in baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, and/or swimming.

The vast majority of cases are seen in association with the aforementioned shoulder pathologies. Most commonly, LHB tendinopathy occurs in association with RC pathology, EI/SIS, or in tandem with subscapularis injuries. In the setting of RC tears, 90% of cases demonstrated concomitant LHB tendinopathy, and 45% of cases had additional LHB instability

Pathological Process - Tendinopathic Cascade

The pathophysiology of LHB tendinitis/tendinopathy begins with

• The early stages of tenosynovitis and inflammation secondary to repetitive traction, friction, and shoulder rotation. Inflammation develops early on in the tendinous portion in the bicipital groove.
• The tendon increases in diameter secondary to swelling and/or associated hemorrhage, further compromising the tendon as it becomes mechanically irritated in its confined space. The resultant increased pressure and specific sites of traction predispose the tendon to pathologic shear forces.
• In addition, the sheath of the biceps tendon is a direct extension of the synovial lining of the glenohumeral joint. Thus, concomitant or preexisting RC pathology can directly compromise the LHB tendon itself.  In the early stages of the disease, the LHB tendon remains mobile in the bicipital groove.
• As the pathophysiology escalates, there is an ensuing LHB sheath thickening, fibrosis, and vascular compromise. The LHB tendon undergoes degenerative changes, and associated scarring, fibrosis, and adhesions eventually compromise LHB tendon mobility. In effect, the tendon becomes pathologically “anchored” in the groove, further exacerbating the potential points of traction and overall increasing shear forces experienced by the LHB tendon along its course.
• In advanced, end-stage conditions, the LHB tendon can eventually rupture at its origin near the superior glenoid tubercle, or as it exits the bicipital groove near its musculotendinous junction.

Clinical Presentation/ Characteristics

Characteristics of proximal biceps tendinitis include the following:

• Atraumatic, insidious onset of anterior shoulder pain
• Symptom exacerbation with overhead activities
• Pain radiating down the anterior arm from the shoulder
• Clicking or audible popping can be reported in the setting of proximal biceps instability
• Pain at rest, pain at night
• History or current sports, especially baseball, volleyball, and other overhead sports
• History or current manual/physical laborer occupations

In addition, a thorough history includes a detailed account of the patient’s occupational history and current status of employment, hand dominance, history of injury/trauma to the shoulder(s) and/or neck, and any relevant surgical history.

Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis of Anterior Shoulder Pain:

• Acromioclavicular joint pathology
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Cervical spine pathology
• Glenohumeral osteoarthritis
• Glenohumeral instability
• Humeral head osteonecrosis
• Sub-acromial Impingement syndrome
• Rotator cuff tears
• Superior labrum anterior-posterior lesions (SLAP)
• Pulley lesions

Diagnostic Procedures

Subjective Assessment

Due to the lack of specificity in differentiating between biceps tendon pathology, subacromial impingement syndromes, and rotator cuff pathology, it is important to take an extensive history upon evaluation and not use these tests solely to make a diagnosis

Objective Assessment

1. Palpation: Pain with palpation over the bicipital groove (which is most felt in 10° of internal rotation) is a common physical finding for patients with biceps tendinopathy.
2. Range of Movement (ROM): Testing of cervical, shoulder and elbow AROM should all be completed as well as PROM of shoulder and elbow.
3. Strength Testing: Strength testing of shoulder, elbow and wrist should all be completed to ensure no significant weakness of other structures. There may also be associated rotator cuff weakness due to the high prevalence of shoulder injuries accompanying biceps tendinopathy.
4. Provocative tests: If any of these tests is positive, it indicates that impingement is present, which can lead to biceps tendinopathy. No validated cluster of diagnostic tests is currently available for ruling in or out biceps tendinopathy specifically. Therefore, these tests should be used to help guide the diagnosis:
   • Yergasons test: Yergason's test requires the patient to place the arm at his or her side with the elbow flexed at 90 degrees, and supinate against resistance. The test is considered positive if pain is referred to the bicipital groove.
   • Neers test: involves internal rotation of the arm while in the forward flexed position. If the patient experiences pain, it is a positive sign of shoulder impingement syndrome or sub acromial pain syndrome.
   • Hawkins test: the patient flexes the elbow to 90 degrees while the physician elevates the patient's shoulder to 90 degrees and places the forearm in a neutral position. With the arm supported, the humerus is rotated internally. The test is positive if bicipital groove pain is present.
   • Speeds test: the patient tries to flex the shoulder against resistance with the elbow extended and the forearm supinated. A positive test is pain radiating to the bicipital groove.^.[2][14][1]

Imaging

Imaging techniques used for diagnosing biceps tendinopathy include:

1. Radiographs (X-rays):
   • Recommended, including bicipital groove view
   • Often normal in isolated cases without coexisting pathologies
2. Ultrasonography:
   • Most cost-effective method
   • Good for evaluating isolated tendinopathy extra-articularly
   • Diagnostic criteria include tendon sheath swelling, fluid accumulation, and increased color flow signals
3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):
   • Useful for detailed visualization
   • More expensive than ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is generally preferred due to its cost-effectiveness and ability to provide dynamic assessment. However, the choice of imaging may depend on the specific clinical presentation and suspected associated conditions..

Outcome Measures

Main outcome measures of biceps tendinopathy are:

1. DASH (disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) scoring,
2. Range of motion,
3. VAS/NPRS
4. Simple Shoulder Test

Medical Management

Conservative: Initial treatment should consist of pain management and use of NSAIDs. If this is unsuccessful the use of steroid injections may be helpful in managing pain. Or for more persistent presentations, corticosteroid injections along the tendon sheath may be indicated. In low-functioning or medically complicated patients, conservative measures should always be pursued initially.

Surgical: If conservative management has not been successful then surgical management can be considered. This is indicated in higher functional level patients or athletes with extensive active pathology accompanied with other shoulder pathology such as rotator cuff tears.

• Normally a biceps or tenodesis is performed either via arthroscopic or open incisions.
• Surgical management of biceps tendinitis includes removing the long head of the biceps tendon via arthroscopic tenodesis. Research has shown this to provide sufficient reductions in pain levels while maintaining normal biceps function.

Physical Therapy Management

Successful physical therapy regimens target the underlying source(s) contributing to the LHB tendon pathology. Potential factors predisposing to biceps-related shoulder injuries include glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) in overhead-throwing athletes/baseball pitchers, poor trunk control, scapular dyskinesia, and internal impingement.

Physical therapy initially focusing on unloading followed by reloading the effected tendon (see Tendinopathy rehab page for full details).

• This may start with isometric training if pain is the primary issue progressing into eccentric training and eventually concentric loading as with other forms of tendon rehab.
• Stretching and strengthening programs are a common component of most therapy programs. Therapists also use other modalities, including ultrasound, iontophoresis, deep transverse friction massage, low-level laser therapy, and hyperthermia; however evidence for these modalities are has low quality.
• The physical therapist must consider both the patient's subjective response to injury and the physiological mechanisms of tissue healing; both are essential in relation to a patients return to optimal performance.

As a preface to discussion of the goals of treatment during injury rehabilitation, two points must be made:

1. Healing tissue must not be overstressed and a very slow heavy loading program should be undertaken. During tissue healing, controlled therapeutic stress is necessary to optimize collagen matrix formation, but too much stress can damage new structures and slow the patient’s rehabilitation
2. The patient must meet specific objectives to progress from one phase of healing to the next. These objectives may depend on ROM, strength, or activity. It is the responsibility of the physical therapist to establish these guidelines.

Exercise therapy should include:

1. Restoring a pain free range of motion - Pain free range can be achieved with such activities as PROM, Active-Assisted Range of Motion (AAROM), and mobilization via shoulder manual therapy
2. Proper scapulothoracic rhythm. .
3. Painful activities such as abduction and overhead activities should be avoided in the early stages of recovery as it can exacerbate symptoms.
4. Strengthening program consisting of heavy slow loading should begin with emphasis on the scapular stabilizers, rotator cuff and biceps tendon.

Clinical Bottom Line

Biceps tendinopathy is an inflammation that can be caused by the normal ageing process as well by a degenerative process which usually occurs in athletes with repetitive overhead movements. It is important to understand, that this inflammation has many different causes and is frequently accompanied by other shoulder pathologies such as: SLAP-lesions, rotator-cuff tears or instability.

1. The patient will primarily experience pain localised in the bicipital groove and may radiate toward the insertion of the deltoid muscle, or down to the hand in radial distribution. Leading to an increase in pain on pull, push and overhead motions.
2. The best way to diagnose biceps tendinopathy, is by comparative palpation of the biceps tendon along the intertubercular groove, or otherwise by doing a ultrasonography (extra-articulair).
3. Treatment consists of conservative or surgical treatment. Surgery should be considered if conservative measures fail after three months. Structures causing primary and secondary impingement may be removed, and the biceps tendon may be repaired if necessary.