Bicipital tendinitis: A common cause of shoulder pain

Bicipital Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendon for the biceps muscle, which is found in the front of the shoulder and is a common cause of shoulder pain. This article shares the medical symptoms associated with this common painful condition and discusses the causes as well as treatment options available so you can heal and get back to life.

Bicipital Tendinitis:

Symptoms include pain and tenderness in the front of the shoulder that may become worse with activity or movement of the shoulder, or when lifting objects with the inflamed arm. The condition is more common in people over the age of 40 and it can affect women more commonly than men.

Bicipital tendinitis is caused by overuse of the biceps brachii muscle, which is the muscle located in the front of the upper arm. This may result from repetitive heavy lifting. Other causes may include instability in the shoulder due to past injury or direct trauma to the front of the shoulder. In individuals with an inflammatory disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, this condition may develop.

To diagnose bicipital tendinitis a person will notice pain and tenderness in front of the shoulder that becomes more intense during times of lifting. When these symptoms are noticed, they should be evaluated by a medical physician.

The evaluation may include a physical examination complete with orthopedic test, which involve putting the arm and shoulder through different ranges of motion to pin point the problem. Additional studies such as x-rays, arthrography (x-ray using an injection of dye) or an MRI scan may be utilized to rule out other conditions or to investigate the need for surgical repair.

Treatment involves rest and avoidance of irritating activities, such as lifting, so the tendon has time to heal. Ice or anti-inflammatory medication can help control symptoms. If conservative treatments do not yield adequate results, then surgery may be performed.