Recovery from a Bicep Tear

Christopher J. Henneforth is a senior finance and business administrator who serves as chief financial officer of Omnia Medical. Christopher J. Henneforth is also an amateur powerlifter who has suffered a 50-percent tendon tear in his bicep.

Particularly prevalent in athletes who engage in repetitive strenuous arm motions, a bicep tear is a physical rift in the tendon of the bicep muscle. Generally occurring at the elbow or the shoulder, a bicep tear can be the result of a traumatic injury, wear over time, or a combination of both.

Whether addressed through surgery or nonsurgical treatment options, recovery from a bicep tear typically involves a lengthy period of rest, often with the arm in some form of brace or sling. Depending on the severity of the tear, patients may have to isolate the arm and limit its movement for as long as six weeks.

After braces and slings are removed, patients will begin a period of physical rehabilitation that will last an average of two months. In total, the healing process will take three to four months in most cases.