Biceps Tendinopathy
Biceps tendinopathy is a common cause of pain at the front of the shoulder. It occurs when the long head of the biceps tendon becomes irritated, overloaded or degenerative.
Pain is often felt at the front of the shoulder and may be aggravated by lifting, reaching overhead, gym training or repetitive activities.
At Momentum Joint Care, we provide doctor-led assessment and ultrasound-guided injections for suitable patients with biceps tendinopathy.
What is Biceps Tendinopathy?
The biceps muscle has two tendons at the shoulder. The long head of the biceps tendon runs through a groove at the front of the upper arm bone before attaching inside the shoulder joint.
This tendon is subjected to significant forces during lifting, carrying, throwing and overhead activities.
Over time, overload, repetitive activity or age-related changes can cause the tendon to become painful and less able to tolerate load.
Biceps tendinopathy often occurs alongside other shoulder conditions such as rotator cuff tendinopathy, subacromial pain syndrome or shoulder osteoarthritis.
Common Symptoms
Biceps tendinopathy can cause:
Pain at the front of the shoulder
Pain when lifting or carrying objects
Pain during overhead activities
Pain with gym exercises such as pressing or pulling movements
Tenderness over the front of the shoulder
Pain when reaching behind the back
Night pain affecting sleep
Many patients improve with conservative treatment.
This may include:
Physiotherapy and strengthening exercises
Activity modification
Load management
Pain relief medication where appropriate
Gradual return to sport or exercise
Injections may be considered when symptoms persist despite appropriate rehabilitation.
Corticosteroid injections can help reduce inflammation and pain around the biceps tendon sheath.
They may be particularly helpful when the tendon is inflamed and irritable, or when pain is preventing effective rehabilitation.
Ultrasound guidance helps ensure accurate placement of the injection around the tendon sheath while avoiding injection directly into the tendon itself (this may cause damage to the tendon).
Hyaluronic acid may be considered in selected patients with persistent tendon-related shoulder pain.
It may be suitable where symptoms are primarily related to tendon irritation rather than significant inflammation, particularly when a non-steroid treatment option is preferred.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is prepared from a sample of your own blood and contains a concentrated amount of platelets and growth factors.
PRP may be considered for:
Chronic biceps tendinopathy
Persistent symptoms despite rehabilitation
Active patients wishing to maintain shoulder function
Patients seeking a non-steroid treatment option
PRP aims to support the body's natural healing processes and may help improve pain and function over time.
You may benefit from assessment if:
Shoulder pain has persisted for several weeks
Pain is affecting sleep
Pain is limiting work, sport or exercise
Symptoms are not improving with physiotherapy
Pain keeps returning despite activity modification
If pain at the front of your shoulder is affecting your work, exercise or daily activities, we can help.
Following assessment, we will discuss whether physiotherapy, corticosteroid injection, PRP or another approach is most appropriate for your symptoms.