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• What is the long head biceps tendonotis?
  • Inflammation of the tendon around the long head of the biceps muscle.
  • Tendonitis is a chronic condition with an initial acute inflammatory stage
  • Chronic overload of the tendon leading to microrearing and an inflammatory response of tendon
  • Pathology of the biceps tendon is most often found in patients 18 to 35 years of age who are involved in sports, including throwing and contact sports, swimming, gymnastics, and martial arts
  • Biceps tendinitis usually occurs along with other shoulder problems. In most cases, there is also damage to the rotator cuff tendons

• Anatomy
  • The long head passes into the shoulder joint through a groove in the arm bone and then a hole in the rotator cuff. Finally, it attaches to the top part of the labrum.
  • 

• Cause
  • Degeneration(overuse) of the tendon from athletics requiring overhead motion
  • Degeneration from the normal aging process.

• SOAP note
  1. Symptoms
     • Gradual onset pain
     • Pain or tenderness in the front of the shoulder, which worsens with overhead lifting or activity
     • Pain or achiness that moves down the upper arm bone
     • An occasional snapping sound or sensation in the shoulder
  2. Health history
  3. Objective information
     1. Observation
        1. tenderness
        2. Hypertonicity and trigger points are present in the biceps brachii
        3. Crepitus may be palpated on movement of the tendon in its sheath
        4. A snapping sensation may be felt due to tight tendos that snap over bony prominences or bursae
     2. Testing
        1. ROM
           1. AF ROM : usually painless
           2. PR ROM : may reveal pain on actions that fully stretch the affected tendon
           3. AR ROM : painful on contraction of the muscle of the affected tendon. Weakness may also be present.
        2. Special test
           1. Speed’s test
           2. Yergason’s test

Resources

Biceps Tendinitis – OrthoInfo – AAOS

Long head of biceps tendonitis: A cause of shoulder pain? (sportdoctorlondon.com)