The bicep does more than just make people awe at how muscular your arms are.
It also creates some more stability in your shoulder.
It does this via the two heads of the bicep: The long head and the short head.
The long head sits in a groove and runs over the top of ball of the arm bone (humerus) and then inserts into the labrum (the socket). The labrum is the cartilage that forms a ring around the socket, creating a suction-like capability.
The short head attaches to a bony process of the shoulder blade called the coracoid process.
When the bicep contracts, it creates tension in these two areas, helping to keep the ball and socket stable and together as we use our shoulders.
Along with the rotator cuff and ligaments, this helps to give us stability in our shoulders as we are doing the activities we love. This stability is important to prevent shoulder issues such as impingement and rotator cuff tears.
However, there is also a caveat to this:
When the short head of the bicep is too tight, it can pull on the coracoid process. This pull can cause the scapula to tilt forward too much, lessening the space underneath the end of the collar bone. This space is known as the subacromial space.
With not enough space, the rotator cuff can get smooshed, leading the pain and rotator cuff tears.
Check out the video below for an explanation with my friend, Rufilio!
If you've been dealing with a shoulder issue, then let's get it taken care of so you can get back to doing the things you love!
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Clinch Performance and Recovery
Performance Physical Therapy serving Sparks, Reno, Carson City, Truckee, and Spanish Springs.
(775)984-6605
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