Triceps Tendonitis

What is triceps tendonitis?

Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon, a strong band of connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. Your triceps muscle, which acts to straighten your arm, is attached to the bony bump at the back of your elbow by a large tendon. Triceps tendonitis causes pain in the back part of the upper arm near the point of your elbow.

How does it occur?

Triceps tendonitis occurs from overuse of the upper arm and elbow, especially in activities like throwing and hammering. It may also be caused by a direct blow to the triceps muscle or tendon.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

• pain when you straighten your elbow or fully bend your elbow
• tenderness at the triceps muscle and tendon
• swelling near the point of the elbow.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will review your history and examine your arm and elbow. If your provider thinks there may be a chip off the bone at the point of your elbow, he or she may order an x-ray.

How is it treated?

• Use ice packs on the painful area for 20 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a day until the pain goes away. You can also do ice massage: Freeze water in a cup and tear back the top of the cup. Rub the injured area with the ice for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 times a day. Be careful when icing your elbow. An important nerve runs just under the skin and can be damaged if you ice more than is recommended.
• Your health care provider may recommend an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen.
• You may be given a strap to wear around the lower part of your triceps during activities that cause discomfort.
• Your health care provider will give you rehabilitation exercises to help in your recovery.

When can I return to my sport or activity?

The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury at a different rate. Return to your activity will be determined by how soon your arm recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better.

You may return to your sport or activity when:

• You no longer have tenderness or swelling at your triceps muscle or tendon.
• You have regained strength in your injured arm so that it is similar to the strength of your uninjured arm.
• You have full range of motion in your injured arm compared to your uninjured arm.

How is triceps tendonitis prevented?

The best way to prevent triceps tendonitis is to avoid overuse of your upper arm and elbow. It is important to recognize early symptoms so you do not make your injury worse by overactivity.