Triceps Muscle Tear. A rare but serious cause of elbow weakness and upper-arm pain

What Is the Triceps Muscle?

The triceps brachii, commonly called the triceps, is the large muscle on the back of the upper arm. It consists of three heads:

• The lateral head

• The medial head

• The long head, which attaches to the shoulder blade

The lateral and medial heads straighten (extend) the elbow, while the long head also helps with:

• Shoulder extension

• Shoulder adduction

All three heads join into one strong tendon that attaches to the olecranon — the bony tip of the elbow.

Causes of a Triceps Tear

Triceps tears and partial tears are uncommon injuries, but when they occur, they usually affect people who train with heavy loads.

Common causes include:

• Lifting weights that exceed tendon capacity

• Poor or insufficient warm-up

• Dehydration

• Mineral deficiencies

• Accumulated micro-injuries

• Faulty movement mechanics

• Use of anabolic or performance-enhancing substances

This injury can also occur during a sudden, forceful movement outside the gym.

Symptoms — What a Triceps Tear Feels Like

Typical symptoms include:

• A sudden sharp pain

• An audible snap or pop

• Pain that becomes dull or disappears after the initial event

• A visible change in muscle shape compared with the healthy side

• A bruise (due to internal bleeding)

• Difficulty or weakness when straightening the elbow

  
  

Diagnosis

In a partial tear, elbow extension is painful and weaker than usual.In a complete tear, elbow extension is weak but not painful, because the tendon no longer transmits force.

Early examination may be difficult due to swelling and tenderness.To confirm the diagnosis and assess the size of the tear, ultrasound (USG) or MRI is essential. MRI also helps rule out an avulsion fracture, where a piece of bone is pulled off with the tendon.

Treatment Options

When Is Surgery Necessary?

For a complete triceps rupture, surgery is the treatment of choice. It is essential for:

• Athletes

• People who need strong elbow extension for work or daily activities

• Anyone with significant functional loss

Only very small, partial tears may be managed conservatively.

Even though it is possible to function with a torn triceps, the muscle plays a critical role in elbow extension and shoulder stability — making proper repair highly recommended.

Physiotherapy After Surgery

Physiotherapy should begin as soon as possible after the operation.

Early Rehabilitation

Start with gentle exercises for:

• The wrist

• The fingers

• The shoulder

Then gradually introduce small, pain-free movements of the elbow.These early exercises improve blood flow, flexibility, and healing in the repaired area.

Progressive Strengthening

A successful return to full function depends on:

• Step-by-step strengthening

• Gradual load progression

• Improving tendon elasticity and endurance

Only structured training allows collagen fibers in the tendon to rebuild correctly.

To speed up recovery, physiotherapists may use:

• Deep tissue massage

• Fascial and intermuscular septum techniques

• Trigger point therapy

• PIR (post-isometric relaxation)

• Kinesiology taping

• Flossing

• Pinotherapy

• Dry needling

• Scar therapy

• Joint mobilizations

All these techniques support range of motion, circulation, tendon flexibility, and overall arm function.

Healing Without Surgery

Conservative treatment is considered only for small tears. However, for most people — especially those physically active — triceps strength is too important to ignore, and surgery provides better long-term outcomes.

References

1. Peter C., Dodds S.D., Ryan L., et al. Distal Triceps Rupture. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2010.

2. Bennett J.B., Mehlhoff T.L. Triceps Tendon Repair. Journal of Hand Surgery, 2015.