What is a Tricep Strain
A Tricep strain is an injury brought on by a strain (over stretching) of the Triceps muscle or its tendon. The Triceps muscle is in charge of extending the elbow joint. As with all muscle strains it generally happens in the weakest point within the musculotendinous unit and usually the weakest point is where the muscle joins together with the tendon, referred to as the musculotendinous junction. The severity of a Tricep strain is graded from one to three. Below is a list of the grades given to different severity of strains and what they mean in relation to a Tricep strain.
Grade 1 Tricep Strain: Small bit of overstretching with out any tearing of tendon or muscle. Normally there is going to be no loss of strength having a grade one Tricep strain.
Grade two Tricep Strain: Moderate degree of overstretching (tearing) that results in partial tearing of the tendon and or muscle fibers. Might be a loss of strength with grade two tricep strain.
Grade three Tricep Strain: Severe level of overstretching which results in a complete rupture of the tricep tendon or muscle. Could be a complete loss of function and strength with a grade three tricep strain. This level of tricep strain normally requires surgery to repair the muscle or tendon.
Tricep Strain
Tricep Strain Symptoms
- Pain elicited upon contracting or stretching of the biceps muscle
- Muscle spasms in the Tricep muscle
- Edema(swelling) in area of the Tricep strain injury
- Loss of range of motion in elbow and to some degree shoulder
- Loss of strength (varies based on grade of tricep strain)
- In severe grade 2 or any grade 3 tricep strain a deformity will be visible in the back of the arm
Tricep Strain Treatment
- During Acute phase of the Tricep strain use the R.I.C.E principle, this will help reduce inflammation
- After three days once the acute phase is over, you can start to apply heat to encourage circulation & blood flow to the injured area
- Rehab or physiotherapy should be started as soon as possible to help the scar tissue align properly. this will make the resulting healing stronger and will also prevent adhesions.
- Physiotherapy & Massage therapy are probably the best treatment modalities to use with a tricep strain
Tricep Strain Recovery Time
- Grade 1 Tricep strain (mild) typically takes 3 to 10 days to heal
- Grade 2 Tricep strain (moderate) typically requires 10 days to 6 weeks to heal to the point of resuming activity
- Grade 3 Tricep strain (severe) usually needs 6 to 10 weeks to heal
Tricep Strain Causes
- Overuse of the biceps muscle
- Sports or activities that require fast or sudden contraction of the biceps muscle
- Obesity
- Poor nutrition
- History of injuries to the bicep
- Bicep muscle in poor physical shape
