Arm and Dangerous (biceps)
General Anatomy
Bicep is a 2-headed muscle beginning at the radius bone of the forearm. Biceps sends a shorter tendon up to our old buddy the Coracoid Process, and a longer tendon over the attachment of the arm bone and shoulder socket, into the shoulder blade. Bicep significantly holds arm into shoulder blade.
When It’s Squishy biceps stabilizes the arm in the shoulder socket, turns the arm for the “key-turning” motion, and looks cool at the beach.
When Not Squishy bicep becomes ARM ‘N DANGEROUS. Not as big a culprit as the rest of our dragons, the attachment to the Coracoid Process means ARM’N DANGEROUS can stoop the shoulders contributing to decreased shoulder range of motion, neck and back pain.
Getting Arm ‘N Dangerous
Past Trauma –if you survived sixth grade there will be some trauma in the forearm extensors, as well any residual accidents to hands and fingers (car doors, caught falls and buzz saws)
Overuse Injury Active Overuse –gripping and pulling will set off Arm’NDangerous, very common in the gym for pull-up’s and pull-down’s
Passive Overuse –there is loads of balancing and stabilizing required of the biceps and forearm extensors from prolonged holding and carrying of the groceries to maintaining a grip for balance on the subway
Repetitive Stress -this is a big culprit for Arm’N’Dangerous since writing and typing are such common activities nowadays
Disuse Injury –sleeping with the hands curled in the big culprit here – and you thought being awake was dangerous!
Emotional State -Negative emotional state heightens all muscular tension including symptoms in already sensitive biceps and forearm extensors
Trauma Begets Trauma –Use of the hands and finger never stops – even a simple hangnails becomes a significant nuisance when a finger is held back just a little bit. Therefore, trauma in the forearms and biceps which operate the grip will perpetuate due to the stress of ongoing normal activity



