Pain in Bicep - ??

[Firefox]

Hi friends! I'm stumped about myself and I hope you can help me.

I have a pain in my bicep, right side only. It is localized, pretty much the center/middle of the belly of the muscle. It does not restrict movement AT ALL, but I can feel it only at certain times during range of motion. I am checking out all ranges of motion, but it seems to change a bit.

I do a good bit of yoga. Lately I have been practicing a lot of forearm balances. Forearm Balance Sometimes on the wall, sometimes in the middle of the room, trying to do different things with my legs.

I have gotten this pain before when I have done a lot of sun salutations, always on the right side. Basically the arm work in Sun Salutations is something very similar to a push up, except you ONLY go down.

This doesn't really bother me in terms of functionality. The only time I notice it when I move my arm around, perhaps pouring out of a pitcher or picking something heavy up. Also when I do the sun salutation/push-down move, my right arm will be weaker as a result of the pain and I'll come down unevenly.

It really is not so much of a problem that I need serious help for it. I wish it wasn't there, but it's not stopping me up in any way. I'm mainly curious about it. If there is something I can do it for, I'd be happy. Also, I have had clients in the past with imprecise pain that I think may be similar to this, and I'd be happy if I could tell them something constructive or helpful in the future.

Thanks!

 

[NewsReader]

Have you explored your pecs yet? The poses you describe are heavy on pec activation, and I suspect you may find some interesting stuff in your chest.

 

[SamMarie]

If you are working out for a while now, it could be that the meridians are moving to accomodate new energy paths. Acupuncture.

 

[angelcake]

I haven't explored my pecs lately, but you are correct. My shoulders are medially rotated and pec minor is pulling the coracoid inferiorly...giving me a slightly "closed heart" kind of chest.

Thanks for that note because it reminds me that I should be doing some pec and arm stretches after I work them out so much.

And acupuncture sounds GREAT! I always manage to forget the energetic side of things. I've been wanting to get some acupuncture for my arms and hands lately anyway, just because of all the massage that I do.

Thanks guys, and more suggestions are welcome.

 

[catchinkiki]

I certainly agree with having the pecs worked, especially since your shoulders are rotated forward. But in addition,

having had bicep pain myself, I have had work done to help clear it out by both another MT and a chiropractor.

In both cases they found most of the problems located around the lower region of the scapula, on the medial border, & lateral as well, up into the armpit. You might want to consider going to a practitioner who is well trained in structural work, and in the meantime work on the floor doing work with a small rubber type of ball, that has some give to it. (I would suggest anything from the size of tennis ball up to one that is least 4" across or more)

If you have the opportunity to check out the book
Informed Touch, it can be helpful as it shows clear photos, with the pain region coded in red, with accompanied
text listing which meridians are affected, and which points to work. It also provides stretches for working the affected areas.

Hope you feel better soon

 

[nplogd00114]

SRT Structural Relief Therapy

To introduce myself: I have been specializing in this kind of work. I have 13 years experience working with a chiropractor. SRT involves holding muscles in a shortened position that allows the proprioceptors to reset. It usually takes 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. I originally learned from "Strain-Counterstrain" by Lawrence H. Jones, DO. I am currently learning more with Taya Contryman's CE classes.
The condition you describe frequently arises with a slight posterior left lean. The balance mechanism is to hold the right arm in slight anterior position with the elbow bent. Thus the medial bicept and brecciradialis are hyper facilitated. When you put heavy stress on elbow flexion/extension as described, counterstrain signals are set up which turn motor points into trigger points.
Try holding the elbow fully flexed with the other arm then flex the shoulder to fully shorten the bicep. If it is the lateral bicept it will be shoulder abduction. If this causes too much stress in arm pit you may have to start by holding a railing and hang with your back to the railing and arm fully internally rotated. this resets the subscapularis and pec minors. Find the position that is strangely comfortable but looks like it should be uncomfortable.
Give me feed back.
Hans Albert Quistorff, LMP
Antalgic Posture Pain Specialist

 

[Temmah B]

Good stuff Hans!

Funny thing to me is the timing of your reply - I used a similar approach to treat a shoulder earlier today, but with the client supine and me manipulating their arm. It worked great!