The triceps brachii muscle, found on the back of your upper arm, is essential for extending your elbow. From pushing open a door to throwing a ball, you rely on your triceps for many daily activities and athletic movements.
A torn triceps means there’s damage to the muscle fibers or the tendon that connects the muscle to the bone. This article will walk you through the symptoms of a torn tricep, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and the treatment options available.
Triceps Anatomy
The triceps brachii muscle runs along the back of your upper arm. Its main job is to straighten your arm at the elbow.
The triceps is made up of three parts, or “heads”:
- Long head: This part starts at your scapula (shoulder blade).
- Medial head: This part starts at your humerus (upper arm bone).
- Lateral head: This part also starts at the humerus.
All three heads come together and attach to the ulna (one of the forearm bones) at the elbow.
What is a triceps tear?
A triceps tear involves damage to the muscle fibers or the tendon that connects the triceps muscle to the bone. Doctors usually classify triceps tears into three grades:
- Grade 1: A mild tear.
- Grade 2: A moderate tear, which means you’ve lost up to half the normal function of your triceps.
- Grade 3: A severe or complete rupture of the muscle or tendon.
Symptoms of a torn triceps
If you’ve torn your triceps, you’ll likely notice the symptoms right away.
Immediate symptoms
- A sudden, sharp pain in the back of your elbow or upper arm that gets worse when you move your arm
- A popping or tearing feeling at the moment of the injury
- Rapid swelling and bruising around your elbow and upper arm
Later symptoms
- Weakness when you try to straighten your arm at the elbow, which makes it hard to do pushing motions
- Tenderness when you touch the triceps muscle or tendon
- A visible bump or gap in the triceps muscle (more likely with a complete tear)
- Stiffness and limited movement in your elbow
What causes triceps tears?
Triceps tears can happen because of sudden injuries or develop over time.
Acute causes
A sudden, traumatic injury, like a direct hit to the triceps or a fall onto an outstretched arm, can cause a triceps tear. You can also tear your triceps during sports activities that involve forcefully extending your elbow against resistance.
Weightlifters sometimes tear a tricep during the bench press. Throwing sports like baseball and contact sports like football and boxing can also lead to triceps injuries, as can lifting something heavy or making a sudden forceful movement.
Chronic causes and risk factors
Sometimes, a triceps tear is the result of overuse or repetitive strain, which can cause tendinitis or tendinosis. Certain underlying medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes, hyperparathyroidism, xanthoma, or chronic kidney failure, can also weaken your tendons.
Also, if you’ve torn a triceps muscle in the past, you’re more likely to tear it again.
How is a torn triceps diagnosed?
First, a doctor will ask you about the injury and examine your arm. During the exam, they’ll probably check your arm’s range of motion, strength, and tenderness.
To confirm the diagnosis and see how severe the tear is, the doctor may order imaging tests, such as:
- X-rays to rule out a broken bone
- Ultrasound to visualize the triceps muscle and tendon
- MRI for a detailed look at the soft tissues
Treatment options for a torn triceps
How you treat a torn tricep depends on how badly you’ve injured the muscle.
Nonsurgical Treatment
When the tear is minor, you may be able to heal it with conservative treatments like:
- RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to ease pain and swelling
- Immobilization with a splint or cast so the triceps can heal
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like NSAIDs to bring down pain and inflammation
- Physical therapy to help you restore your range of motion, strength, and function
Surgical treatment
If you’ve completely or severely torn your triceps, you may need surgery to reattach the torn tendon to the bone with stitches or anchors. After the surgery, you’ll need to follow a rehab plan to make sure you recover fully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a torn tricep heal on its own?
Minor tricep strains might heal with rest, ice, and physical therapy. However, a complete tricep tear often requires surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone. Ignoring a significant tear can lead to chronic weakness and limited function in your arm. Consulting a doctor is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.
What does a pulled tricep feel like?
A pulled tricep, which is a mild to moderate strain, usually feels like a sharp pain at the back of your upper arm. You might also experience tenderness, swelling, and muscle spasms. It can be painful to straighten your arm or extend it overhead. The severity of the pain depends on the grade of the strain.
How do I tell if I tore my tricep tendon?
Signs of a torn tricep tendon include sudden, severe pain at the back of your elbow, often accompanied by a popping sensation. You’ll likely have significant weakness extending your arm and may notice a visible gap or bulge in the muscle. Bruising and swelling around the elbow are also common.
Can you move your arm with a torn tricep?
While you might be able to move your arm to some extent with a torn tricep, it will be extremely painful and weak, particularly when trying to straighten your elbow against resistance. A complete tear can severely limit your ability to extend your arm. Attempting to use the arm extensively can worsen the injury.
In Summary
How long it takes to recover from a torn tricep depends on how severe the injury is and how you treat it. Non-surgical treatment can take weeks or months, while surgical recovery can take several months or longer to regain strength.
If you have sudden arm pain, can’t move your elbow like normal, or think you may have torn your tricep, see a doctor right away.