Possible Brachialis strain?? Please help

[bikelet]

Hi there,

Just a quick reply- you may want to consider subscapularis as a muscle which may be involved. This is a muscle which sits deep in the armpit and the tendon of which has close attachment (proximity) near the biceps tendons. See if you can get your GF to palpate the lesser tubercle of the humerus (where this muscle attaches) and also deep in the armpit. If you have a look at the link below, you can see the anatomy a bit clearer and also there is information about an injury test procedure.

Subscapularis muscle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think subscapularis might be involved due to the location of symptoms and also because it is involved with internal rotation, particularly when the arm is outstretched (as in golf). Also consider coracobrachialis- this muscle attaches to the coracoid process (you can palpate this area/get GF to)- it doesn't cross the elbow joint, but it also helps to adduct the arm (as in the golf swing).

I wouldn't be too hung up about getting an MRI- functional and clinical testing can often tell you just as much. Good luck- let me know how you get on

[wjs010]

wow man thanks for that! I feel that it may have had some initial involvement in the pain, but I don't think its that. I need to add that the lower ( deeper, not distal) layer of my biceps brachii seem to have a more narrow appearance now, whereas before it was thicker. And the subscapularis would not have had anything to do with the hammer curl discomfort, would it? I feel that the injury was more due to forced adduction( because my chest was much bigger and i was not flexible) instead of internal rotation. I hope I have made sense with my description. If you have any other advice I would appreciate it.

[bikelet]

Hi, I just read back through your post and think that you are probably right- if that's the location that gives you pain and its quite isolated with hammer curls then it most likely is brachialis. I would say that you best bet is to begin a gradual strengthening rehab program- so start with the hammer curls but at a weight that you can tolerate with absolutely no pain and with high reps. You can gradually progress from there Also try some internal and external rotation exercises with light resistance (eg theraband or 1-2 kg wts) in case there is some rotator cuff damage.

[RyanSnell]

Yeah strip the weight off lighted reps. If you are training biceps, switch to a neutral grip curl or pronated grip curl, as this will not activate the biceps brachii as much.