Course Description:

Biceps tendinopathy is a pathology of the proximal biceps brachii tendons, involving either the short head or long head. In most cases, it is the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) that is injured, as tendinopathy of the short head is rare. The LHBT is an intraarticularglenohumeral joint structure that when injured, can contribute to other shoulder pathologies, including labral tears or rotator cuff tendinopathy. Prior to entering the glenohumeral joint, the LHBT traverses the bicipital groove, which is another area where damage to the tendon is possible. Individuals with biceps tendinopathy will complain of anterior shoulder symptoms (pain and/or fatigue) during repetitive shoulder motions, as well as have limited active and passive shoulder range of motion (ROM). Although biceps tendinopathy can be an isolated pathology, it is commonly present in conjunction with other injuries, making its diagnosis and management complicated. Treatment plans need to take into consideration the age, physical appearance, and physical activity of patients in addition to severity of the condition, as all of these factors will contribute to determining if conservative treatment or surgery will be necessary.