Torn Bicep Tendon

[JMac]

So I tore my distal (elbow) bicep tendon just over a week ago during a basketball game. I'm booked in for surgery to repair it next Tuesday

Does anyone on here have any experience with this type of injury? It would be good to hear about different approaches to the rehab process and starting up again on the erg.

The usual recovery period for this can be 4-6 months from what I've read!!

[Anth_F]

Yeah it's a pain in the ass. I tore mine some years ago!!! Because you naturally need to use your arms all the time i kept aggravating it

Took the best part of a year for mine to heal and be able to function my arm properly again. And without feeling any niggle pain. This was before i began erging though... i would think erging would be a no go for a while in this type of scenario.

[hjs]

****

If they repair it well and you are carefull enough it could heal up 100%, think you should forget erging for a while, maybe work on other stuff. Find a good ph.therapist to guide you.

[Gammmmo]

Retain aerobic fitness with running or preferably biking (kinder if heavier guy)? Just a thought....

[JMac]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've been running almost daily and will continue to do that in combination with a lot of lower body work in the gym.

I just hope I'm able to find a good physio and I'll be able to attack rehab.... Such a pain though due to the long recovery! Basketball season done and no more erg for a while!

[Anth_F]

I can fully sympathize... injuries that put you out of your regular training routines are sooo bloody frustrating.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[JerekKruger]

I can't give any useful advice, having never had a similar injury, but I will wish you a speedy and full recovery.

[Ripples]

If at all possible, try to find a sports physical therapist even if it means traveling further. You will be better served.

Best wishes for a swift and total recovery.

[wsmith]

As an orthotrauma surgeon who rows, i agree with the advice: plan on training around the injury with exercise that does not use the biceps, until your surgeon gives you the OK. Your doc should design your therapy program based on your specific injury and the type and quality of the repair. I would guess that you could be rowing within 12 weeks on average. This injury occurs fairly frequently in strength athletes: US football players, powerlifters, bodybuilders. Most can return to their high intensity activities after repair. Rowing would not be as hard to return to as some of these sports. Good luck.

[JMac]

wsmith and Ripples, thanks for the advice.

Being a fan of strength sports, I've seen this injury before and knew instantly what I'd done when it happened. Although, I've NEVER seen this injury in all my years (20+) of playing basketball, so weird!

[Dangerscouse]

@ JMac i played a lot of basketball when I was younger and I have never seen nor heard of someone tearing the bicep...do you play with a medicine ball??

Good luck with the recovery and the inevitable frustration that will come with it