Rehabilitation of the ruptured biceps brachii muscle of an athlete.

Abstract

The purposes of this case study are to report on the successful rehabilitation program of a college football player diagnosed as having a ruptured biceps brachii muscle and to discuss the basic rehabilitation concepts used for treatment planning. A review of the literature indicated agreement that the ruptured biceps brachii is a rare event, but the pathology does occur, and the opportunity for the clinician to evaluate and treat the injury may arise. Following a rupture of the biceps brachii muscle, a player was treated conservatively (nonsurgically) using rehabilitation concepts that included ice during acute phase; heat during chronic phase; submaximal exercise prior to maximal exercise; multiple angle isometric exercise prior to isotonic and isokinetic exercise; and functional progression to field activities. The athlete was able to avoid surgery, successfully return to competition in three weeks, and compete in the final five football games without reinjury. One year follow-up evaluation revealed that the athlete had full strength with no residual problems, a finding not commonly reported in conservatively treated biceps brachii ruptures. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;13(4):184-190.