Biceps pain is caused by poor shoulder mechanics, not bicep curls
Location, mechanics, leverage
This is not medical advice. This is also not proven in scientific study, just my opinion observed in clinical practice.
When I see a shoulder patient, they might have several diagnoses from the doctor. “Rotator cuff tear, labrum tear, sub acromial impingement, long head bicep tendonitis”, etc.
The long head of the biceps anchors under the front of the deltoid. The deltoid is the large muscle that is supposed to lift the arm.
People develop LHB tendonitis, not because they are flexing their elbow and biceps too much, but because of the location of where the biceps is anchored near the shoulder joint.
When someone has pain, or poor shoulder mechanics, they usually also have weakness, due to many of the issues above. As the deltoid tries to lift the arm, the body will recruit the biceps to help, due only to it’s proximity and location.
The cross sectional area of the LHB tendon is much smaller than the deltoid, and thus more easily prone to injury.
Sometimes the industry can band aide the problem, with anti-inflammatories, taping, needling, etc. In some cases, understanding the mechanics, and correcting them, will decrease painful symptoms.
Many shoulder problems have to do with shoulder posture. Rounded shoulders and slumped posture causes the ball of the shoulder to rest forward on the LHB origin. Sitting up straighter, and performing rows can help decrease this pressure on the LHB.
In my experience, poor leverage and mechanics contribute the most to people’s shoulder diagnoses. Consider this article,
