The Elbow

Lesion of the Biceps Brachii

Occurence

Common overuse lesion in athletes who participate in sports that require repetitive flexion with forced extension: - judo, body building, bowling and gymnastics. Also heavy labor, and shovelling may lead to microtraumata and clinical problems.

Clinical Picture

Pain along the anterior aspect of the elbow.
Full range of passive movement
Resisted flexion and resisted supination provoke the pain

Localisations

Three localisations are possible:

muscle belly : the pain is at the mid-arm.
musculo-tendinous junction: the pain is at the lower arm
tenoperiosteal: the pain is in the elbow, probably with some radiation down the front of the forearm.
A "localizing sign" - pain at full passive pronation - is present. This results from a painful pinching of the tendon between the radial tuberosity and the shaft of the ulna.