A triceps tear is damage to the triceps muscle or the tendon connecting it to the bone. These injuries range from minor strains (grade 1) to complete tears (grade 3).
Understanding the injury and what it takes to heal is important. If you think you’ve hurt your triceps, getting medical help quickly can improve your chances of a full recovery.
This article will explore the anatomy of the triceps, what causes tears, what the symptoms are, treatment options, and what to expect for a pulled tricep healing time.
Triceps Muscle Anatomy
The triceps brachii is the muscle on the back of your upper arm. Its main job is to straighten your elbow. When you extend your arm, you’re using your triceps.
At the end of the muscle is the triceps tendon. This tendon connects the triceps to the olecranon, which is the bony part of your ulna that makes up your elbow.
Interestingly, the triceps actually has three parts, or “heads”: the long head, the lateral head, and the medial head.
What is a triceps tear?
A triceps tear happens when the triceps muscle or its tendon stretches or strains past its limit. This damages muscle fibers.
A partial tear means that only some of the muscle fibers are damaged, but the muscle is still in one piece. A complete tear means that the muscle or tendon is completely severed.
Doctors commonly use a grading system to describe triceps tears:
- Grade 1 (mild): Minimal loss of function
- Grade 2 (moderate): Up to 50% loss of function
- Grade 3 (severe): Complete tear, severe pain, and disability
Symptoms of a Triceps Tear
If you’ve torn your tricep, you’ll probably notice one or more of the following:
- Sudden, sharp pain in your elbow or upper arm
- Swelling and bruising around your elbow
- Weakness in your elbow, especially when you try to straighten your arm
- A “popping” or ripping feeling when the injury happened
The more severe your tear, the more intense your symptoms will be. For example, a Grade 1 tear may only cause mild pain and a little bit of weakness. A Grade 3 tear, however, might cause extreme pain and make it impossible to straighten your arm.
If you have a complete tear, you might even be able to feel a gap in the tendon.
What causes a triceps tear?
Triceps tears can be either acute or chronic.
Acute triceps tears
Acute triceps tears are generally caused by traumatic injuries. Some examples of injuries that can result in a triceps tear include:
- Falling onto an outstretched arm
- Taking a direct blow to the elbow
- Suffering a sports injury (weightlifting or contact sports)
- Overloading the muscle while weightlifting
- Rapid eccentric contraction of the triceps muscle with a heavy weight
Chronic triceps tears
Chronic triceps tears usually develop over time due to repetitive stress or overuse. They can also be related to underlying medical conditions.
These types of tears are more common in athletes who make repetitive overhead movements. Chronic tendonitis can weaken the tendon over time and make it more susceptible to tears.
Underlying medical conditions that weaken tendons, such as diabetes or kidney disease, can also contribute to chronic triceps tears.
Risk factors for tricep tears
While tricep tears are rare, some factors can make them more likely:
- Sports: Sports with lots of overhead motion and heavy lifting, like weightlifting, gymnastics, and baseball, increase the risk.
- Previous elbow injuries: If you’ve injured your elbow before, you’re more vulnerable.
- Underlying conditions: Some medical conditions weaken tendons and make tears more likely.
- Anabolic steroid use: Steroids are known to weaken tendons.
- Certain medications: Some antibiotics may increase the risk.
- Age: Tricep tears are rare in people under 60.
Diagnosing a triceps tear
If you suspect you’ve torn your triceps, a doctor will begin by taking your medical history and performing a physical exam. They will assess your range of motion and strength and feel along the triceps tendon to check for defects.
To get a clearer picture, they may also order imaging tests.
- X-rays can rule out a bone fracture.
- MRI scans can show the triceps muscle and tendon and reveal the extent of the tear.
Getting an early diagnosis is important, because it allows you to begin treatment as soon as possible. This improves your chances of a full recovery.
Treatment Options for Triceps Tears
How your triceps tear is treated will depend on how severe the tear is. Mild and partial tears can be treated without surgery, while severe or complete tears may require an operation.
Nonsurgical Treatment
If you have a mild or partial tear, your doctor will likely recommend a nonsurgical approach that includes:
- Rest: Staying away from activities that aggravate the injury.
- Ice: Applying ice to reduce pain and swelling.
- Compression: Supporting the elbow with a bandage.
- Elevation: Keeping the elbow elevated to reduce swelling.
- Splinting: Immobilizing the elbow in a slightly bent position (around 30 degrees) for a month to a month and a half.
- Physical therapy: Exercises to restore range of motion and strength after the splint is removed.
Surgical Treatment
If you have a complete tear or a severe partial tear, surgery may be necessary.
During the surgery, the surgeon will reattach the tendon to the bone using sutures or bone anchors. If the tendon has shortened significantly, an allograft tendon (a tendon from a donor) may be needed to reconstruct the triceps tendon.
After surgery, you’ll likely need to:
- Immobilize the arm in a cast or brace.
- Gradually begin range-of-motion exercises.
- Work with a physical therapist to restore strength and function.
How long does a torn tricep take to heal?
If you avoid surgery, doctors will likely splint your elbow in a slightly bent position (around 30 degrees) for about a month and a half. You should regain full movement in your elbow in about 12 weeks, but it might take six to nine months to regain full strength.
After surgery, doctors will immobilize your arm in a hinged elbow brace for about a month. You can probably start light, non-resistance exercises around two or three months after surgery, and athletes can usually begin lifting weights after three months. Most people can return to sports and recreational activities around five or six months after surgery, but it can take up to a year to regain pre-injury strength.
The severity of the tear, your age and overall health, and how well you stick to your rehabilitation program will all affect your recovery time.
Potential Complications
Triceps tears, and their treatments, can sometimes lead to complications.
These include:
- Incomplete recovery of your ability to extend your elbow
- Re-rupture of the tendon
- Nerve damage
- Infection, especially in older adults
To avoid these problems, it’s important to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions. You should also attend all of your physical therapy appointments and perform your exercises as directed.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You may want to see a doctor if you experience:
- Sharp pain in your elbow
- A popping or tearing feeling when the injury occurred
- Inability to straighten your elbow
- Significant swelling and bruising
Closing Thoughts
Remember, a triceps tear can happen suddenly or gradually, and treatment can range from rest and ice to surgery. How long it takes to heal depends on how badly you’ve torn the muscle and how you treat it.
If you think you’ve torn your triceps, see a doctor right away and follow their advice to get back to full strength.