Have you ever noticed the huge biceps of Superman, Mike Tyson, or Dwayne Johnson? In all three cases, except for maybe Superman, these people were not born with these huge biceps – they had to hit up the gym in order to gain their big guns. This goal is very popular among young adults, but it also comes with the chance of injury. Let’s delve more into this topic and examine the chance of tearing your bicep muscle. For starters, your bicep muscle occupies the front of your upper arm and extends toward your shoulder and elbow via the tendons. The tendons can be torn at either end, but the most common is a tear near the shoulder.
Torn biceps can occur when the arm experiences an unexpected amount of force, such as from breaking a fall or a pushing motion. For example, a skier falling down or a person lifting a heavy object can result in injury. Often times, the impact will cause a partial or complete tear of the tendon, depending on various other risk factors. For instance, torn biceps are more likely to affect older adults ages 40 to 60 because their tendon may be wearing out. In addition, weightlifters are also at a higher risk due to the regular pressure they apply to their biceps. Symptoms of torn biceps include immediate pain in the upper arm, difficulty bending and rotating, loss of arm strength, or swelling.
Image Source: Marc Romanelli
Treatments for torn biceps involve icing the affected area and getting plenty of rest. Adults can also take anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to manage pain and swelling. In addition, physical therapy can strengthen and restore arm function. If the bicep tendon is completely torn, surgery will be required and recovery takes around three months. One way to prevent torn biceps is to adequately stretch before and after physical activity. In addition, knowing your limits is important; for example, if you are weightlifting, you should slowly build up to heavier weights to avoid any strains. If you feel any pain, stop the activity, and rest up.
If your goal is to get huge biceps, do it safely and avoid injury. Learn about the various gym equipment you can use, such as dumbbells, barbells, or benches, and how they work. It’s always a good idea to work out with an experienced friend to ensure that you are practicing proper form. Start out with light weights and slowly work your way up to heavier ones so you don’t overstress your muscles. Bigger biceps don’t happen overnight and if you rush it, you’ll be more prone to injury. Like the old saying, “Slow and steady wins the race.”
Feature Image Source: daniel64
