Triceps Tendon Injury

What is a triceps tendon injury?

A strain is a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon. Tendons, are strong bands of connective tissue that attach muscle to bone. When a tendon is acutely injured it is called a strain. Tendonitis is when a tendon is inflamed. When there are micro-tears in a tendon from repeated injury it is called tendinosis. The term tendinopathy refers to both inflammation and micro-tears.

Your triceps muscle, which acts to straighten your arm, is attached to the bony bump at the back of your elbow by a large tendon. Triceps tendinopathy causes pain in the back part of the upper arm near the point of your elbow.

How does it occur?

Triceps tendinopathy occurs from overuse of the upper arm and elbow, especially in activities like throwing and hammering. It may also be caused by a direct blow to the triceps muscle or tendon. A triceps strain can occur with a forceful straightening of your arm or elbow.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

• pain when you straighten your elbow or fully bend your elbow
• tenderness at the triceps muscle and tendon
• swelling near the point of the elbow

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will review your history and examine your arm and elbow. You may have an X-ray to check for bone chips at the point of your elbow.

How is it treated?

To treat this condition:

• Put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a cloth on the area every 3 to 4 hours, for up to 20 minutes at a time.
• You could also do ice massage. To do this, first freeze water in a Styrofoam cup, then peel the top of the cup away to expose the ice. Hold the bottom of the cup and rub the ice over the injured area for 5 to 10 minutes. Do this several times a day while you have pain.
• Take an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen, or other medicine as directed by your provider. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days.
• Wear a strap around the lower part of your triceps during activities that cause discomfort as directed by your provider.
• Follow your provider’s instructions for doing exercises to help you recover.

When can I return to my normal activities?

Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Return to your activities depends on how soon your arm recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better. The goal is to return to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury.

You may return to your normal activities when:

• You no longer have tenderness or swelling at your triceps muscle or tendon.
• Your injured arm is as strong as your uninjured arm.
• You have full range of motion in your injured arm compared to your uninjured arm.

How can triceps tendon injuries be prevented?

The best way to prevent triceps tendinopathy is to avoid overuse and forceful movements of your upper arm and elbow. It is important to recognize early symptoms so you do not make your injury worse by overactivity.