Sports Shoulder Injuries / The Shoulder
Biceps Tendon Rupture
A biceps tendon rupture results when the tendon attachment separates from the bone. Following a biceps tendon rupture, the muscle cannot pull on the bone, and certain movements may be weakened and painful. There are two types of biceps tendon ruptures: proximal and distal biceps tendon ruptures. Proximal is an injury to the biceps tendon at the shoulder joint and distal is an injury toward the elbow joint.
A distal biceps tendon rupture is characterized by sudden pain over the front of the elbow. Swelling and bruising around the elbow are also common symptoms. A proximal biceps tendon rupture usually does not include a significant amount of pain; however, some patients may experience pain relief after the rupture.