Pectoralis Major Tear (Everything you might want to know about "Pec Tears")
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- In this video, we will discuss the tear of the pectoralis major. We will discuss the anatomy involved, how it happens, what it feels like, the treatments, and a little on prevention.
The "Pec" is the large muscle in front of our chest that has a very interesting structure that allows it to do its job with the arms at many different positions. Unfortunately, it can be overstressed and can rupture. That usually requires surgery. However, there are stories of people living very active lives without the muscle.
0:00 Introduction
1:30 The Anatomy of the Pectoralis Major
3:27 How a Pectoralis Major Happens
5:38 Treatment of Pectoralis Major Tear
7:19 Surgery for Pectoralis Major Tear
8:10 Recovery after Surgery for Pectoralis Major Tear Surgery
9:13 Preventing a Pectoralis Major Tear
10:07 Conclusion
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** Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only. Any medical information on this channel is intended for general guidance only and must never be considered a substitute for consulting with your own physician. Always seek out the advice of a qualified health professional for your personal situation. **
This tear (muscle only) happened to me about 3 months ago. I had to move a heavy bag of flour and just wanted to get it done, instead of splitting the weight. In midair, I felt it. Oy. Don't push it to save a minute. You don't realize how important the pec is until you can't use it for much at all and the pain, even when sleeping in certain positions, is awful. The weakness in the first month was frustrating and man did it ever need support. Only in the last week have I been able to sneeze without pain and what a great milestone it was! I'm looking forward to being able to doing the full range of arm movements in *mild* yoga poses over the next month or so and I'm thanking my lucky start this preventable injury didn't need surgery.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am sure people will find it helpful.
I had this injury at the end of 2020
I didn’t hurt but I had a lot of bruising
I never went to get it treated
I didn’t have insurance
I was able to get insurance in November of 2021
I started doing the research and planned to get a surgery
Since it was a long time after the injury I was kinda worried that it couldn’t be done
So I went to see an Orthopedic doctor and he ordered an MRI
He said it could be done
So May 17th 2022 I had my surgery
I was in a sling for 6 weeks and was able to do normal movements by 8 weeks
I just past the anniversary and I’ve been hitting the gym and can feel my strength slowly coming back
It’s a little deformed still but I don’t mind
I’m still in good hopes that it will even out with repetition
At least that’s what The Orthopedic doctor told me
So all I can do now is hit it hard
Before all this my confidence went down and I got wayyyy out of shape
So now I’m coming back slowly and training smart I’ve lost 10lbs so far and feeling great
Thank you for sharing your story! I am sure others will also find it valuable as well. Slow and steady with recovery. Best wishes!
@@GoodByeSkyHarborLive yea man the tendon ripped off the bone 🦴 🤣
@@mannygonzalez8358bro how are you doing now ???
First, I’d like to say this video is awesome. I am a board-certified orthopedic technologist/1st assist so my knowledge base is fair on the subject. I am a purple belt, ultra heavy weight, and I am 4 months out of a complete, hellacious, rupture of my pectoralis major. I just got back on the mats and started strength training again. My range of motion is 100% back. I find myself scared all the time. As I get back to rolling I hope to over come that. I find that when I train the area I sometimes have a burning sensation after. I’m hoping for a full recovery. Fantastic video and thank you so much for posting it.
I am glad you found the video and took the time to comment. Sorry you have had to recover from this but it sounds like you are in the path. The mental side (not being afraid) from coming out of surgery takes a while. It will also take some time to get your full strength. Some burning and soreness at the area of surgery is expected at this point. Thanks again for sharing your experience. If you would like - can you share how you sustained the injury?
Did you have surgery?
Hey brother, I'm also a BJJ purple belt recovering from pec major tear/surgery. Did you notice any sort of "looseness", for lack of a better word, in that area as you were getting back into rolling/lifting? For ref, im about 9m post op and sometimes it just feels off, not painful, but minimal confidence in it.
@@mikemcginley7639hey bro. Fellow purple belt here and 4 months post op today. How is your recovering and strength going ? I’m still regaining my rom and strength it everything is going well. For my 4 month anniversary I decided I would try real push-ups for the first time and was shocked that I could do 40 full rom push ups with no pain or weird feelings or popping. I’m excited to get back on the mat. When did you get back on the mat and start rolling again ?
Great video. I did this about a year ago now. I was unable to get surgery because the tendon tore away from the muscle, not bone. I think i lucked out as its been a year and while i will never be back at 100% for bench press, at least the deformity is minor and i still have full range of motion plus i can do light flys and dumbell press. I wish this never happened but glad the recovery has gone well
Thank you for sharing your story. Glad you are doing reasonably well.
Had surgery for this on August 23, 2023. Thank you for this video.
Sorry you had to have surgery, but hopefully you are doing well now! Thanks for watching
Hi, hows the recovery goin? I have surgery next week and am shittin it 😮 mine is the one where unfortunately the fibres have ripped off so more difficult to repair. I won't be benching again thats for sure 👍🏼
What’s the update on the recovery ??
Same here. Had a pec major repair on 15th August 2023
Thanks Doc. I ruptured my pec on Jan 2 during a BJJ role. Got my surgery tomorrow. Feeling good, and a little nervous, about it!
Sorry about the injury. Good for you being proactive about it. You’ll do great. Positive vibes!
I sustained this injury while doing a mud obstacle race and echo what you said about the earlier being the better. I waited about 2.5 years to have mine done and was very lucky it wasn't too late. The surgery was more intense and it took about 1-2 years before I felt completely back to normal because of how long I waited. I'm thankful that it all worked out in the end, but it would have been a much easier road if I had just gone and gotten it over with at the beginning.
Thank you for sharing your story! Yes, it was fortunate that a repair could still happen that far out from injury. I am glad you have made a good recovery in the end!
@@CuttotheBone I never properly warmed up or did any stretching. The therapist said to do push-ups and stay away from the bench press. The shocking feeling of deja Vu.
@@CuttotheBone I had both pecs surgically repaired fairly quickly the first injury approx 1 month out due to workmens comps rules. The left pec maybe 2 or 3 weeks.
@@HB-yq8gy a month out is getting along pretty far (darn worker’s comp) but not too far out. Glad the surgeries got done and you are recovering
@@CuttotheBone Now at 58 y/o mostly I do group classes & yoga.
Dr. Pomerantz, thank you for having this channel! Great resource! I was put in spider guard and felt a snap/pop at my armpit. I have minor bruising now 3 days out. Had an MRI of the shoulder which was negative. Why would I get an MRI of the shoulder and not the pec? It’s frustrating.
Defending the spider guard is certainly an example of a situation where the pec could be stressed. The optimal test for a pec tear is an MRI focused on the pec. I am glad that the shoulder MRI was negative (sometimes they can see evidence of a pec tear at its insertion) but a better study of the pec is needed if that is the concern.
@@CuttotheBone Thank you!!!
Tore mine last Monday went straight to the ER had a mri, met with my ortho on Tuesday and had surgery Wednesday….I’m also 31 and been on TRT since I was 26 …heard the pop and seen my pec jump while doing bench press
Thank you for sharing your story. Impressive how fast you were able to get care. Best wishes on your recovery!!
How’s your bench press been bro ?
One week post op, came across this great video. I am hopeful but sadly in the do nothing stage for a bit.
Be patient. Allow yourself to heal. Best wishes on your recovery!
Im 8 weeks post op as well. Sounds like we had similar time frames. How is your recovery going. I’m doing PT twice a week we finally started weights this well and I am feeling things are coming together nice. No external rotation yet. That still hurts.
Thanks for this video doc. I go in for surgery this Thursday for a tore pec. My injury occurred fighting my way out of an arm bar. I heard a pop and felt the pain.
The next day I had some minor bruising on the inside of my arm more towards the top of the bicep instead of my shoulder. I gave the injury about a week and decided to "test it out" at the gym. When I could not bench press 5 lb dumbbells I knew something was wrong and scheduled an appointment the next day. At this point, I noticed my left pec (the one that was injured) was "drooping" slightly.
I visit the doc. He feels around the pec, up into the shoulder / arm pit area. He said it felt like the muscle was still connected, but had me get an MRI. The next day the clinic calls back schedule surgery. It's quite stunning how quickly this escalated from "maybe it's a strain" to "I'm going to have the first surgery of my life."
If someone is reading this novel and wondering if they have a tear - my symptoms were:
1. Bruising
2. Deformity of the injured pec - drooping just a bit. You had to look closely and compare one nipple to the other to see the difference.
3. A "cramping" sensation if I tried to flex the pec.
Is the recovery time much different for a 49 year old (very healthy) vs a younger patient? I'm just curious if it skews the averages much.
Thank you for sharing you story! I have no doubt that people will find it helpful. Some good lessons to be learned.
To answer your question: yes, age matters in healing. Younger people heal better than older people. Certainly, as a healthy 49 year old you will heal better than some younger people, but overall, a 19 year old is going to heal faster/better than you. Aging is a bummer. That being said, you can expect good outcomes from your injury/surgery.
Thanks again for sharing!
In my case, my pec was balled up toward my sternum when I would flex... It was very obviously detached. I am curious how you didn't figure it out the first night though. I was not able to pick my arm up while laying in bed. Did you not have this issue?
@@MichaelJerkson I had full range of motion and honestly not much pain. The thing that tipped me off was that I couldn't bench press 2.5 lbs .
so it was the tendon?
@@GoodByeSkyHarborLive yep, ripped right off the 🦴...
Thanks for this video it's probably the one I learned the most from on You Tube. I am a 48 year old competitive arm wrestler and am currently dealing with a partial tear of the small head of my right Pec muscle, Apparently the tendon is still in tact and according to my surgeon, surgery wouldn't yield any results. It happened exactly 2 weeks ago, only a slight deformity can be felt in the muscle and honestly during normal activity I really have minimal pain and the bruising which looked horrible is clearing up better each day. I cannot help but wonder if my strength will be affected down the road when competing. Do these types of tears usually end up in loss of strength? Can I fully recover my side pressure strength and internal rotation? Will I be at risk for further injury even if I wait a year to compete? I told my surgeon that these were my major concern but didn't get a solid answer from him. Any input on my concerns with this would be appreciated! (The injury can be viewed on my channel btw)
I am glad you found the video informative - thanks for watching.
Based on your description, I will assume the tear is in the muscle or musculotendinous junction of a small part of the clavicular head of the pec major. If this is the case, I agree with the surgeon you saw about advising non-operative management. As you have described, the pec major is very important for adduction (arm to side of the body) and internal rotation, which are very important movements for arm wrestling. While difficult to give a definitive answer (1. I do not have all of the information and 2. There is no definitive research on arm wrestlers with small tears and return to function), I can say with optimism that you can return to competition. With proper time and rehabilitation I do think you will have a restoration of your strength. Impossible to say that it is 100%, but I think it will be very high. Who knows, with emphasis on rehab and strengthening you could become stronger. I cannot say that you are at more risk of it happening again, but it definitely could happen again if it happened once. With proper rehab I do think you will mitigate this risk.
I hope these answers help. Thanks again for your engagement.
Comment if you have had this injury! How long did it take you to recover? Anything you want people to know about your experience?
Almost 12 weeks post op. Recovery feels slow but i’m told recovery can be up to a year before i’m up to 100%. Right now lifting my arm from hip to head i’m at about 160 degrees. I was told not to lift for 6 month post op. I tore mine in a combat sport and not while lifting.
I do have question. Could TRT also weaken or increase the likelihood of tearing the pec?
@@MartianManHunter_ thank you for sharing your experience. Sounds like you are on track. Focus on getting range of motion back. Strength will come.
There is evidence that exogenous testosterone (PEDs/anabolic steroids) increase the risk of tendon rupture. TRT treatment could contribute to that, but to my knowledge there is no research that shows the specific threshold of testosterone that increases the risk for tendon rupture.
heard the pop on the eccentric while incline benching. Have not been able to get and MRI but there is no deformity, also no loss of ROM, hopefully its just a mild strain
Hopefully just a strain. Usually with a big tear there is swelling and bruising that develops but if there is any concern you should get checked out by a doctor. Best wishes!
Yes, I too ripped my right major pec off the bone bench pressing not really heavy 205 lbs 171 lbs my weight height is 5'10' 33 y/o. Doc said don't life heavy or it will happen again. The recovery was very long over 1 year. So like Doofus, I ripped the left pec at 51 y/o doing body works exercise pushups off set with a stepper went too deeper stretched my major pec like a rubberband had both pecs surgically repaired. I was clean and never did steroids only creatine & power protein.
Yikes. You have been through it. Sorry you e had to deal with all of that but thanks for sharing your story!
I partially ruptured my pec tendon which retracted beyond 40% (received surgery 4 weeks after, it was a motorbike accident). Here in the uk I was just told to come back after six weeks in the sling then I’ll be told about rehab etc. I’m just under three weeks post surgery and the other day I did heavy leg press(arm in the sling) whilst gripping onto my top for extra support. I had a pretty hard and heavy session and didn’t have a problem until a few hours later I felt swelling growing in the area. My movement etc feels more restricted as of today and the swelling continues to feel ‘flared up’. Could the spike in blood pressure from heavy leg press and passive flexing of my pec under a load have damaged it? Wouldn’t I feel pain or a pull etc if I’d have damaged it? Thanks
Hard to say what is going on from over here. As long as you were not firing your pec you should be safe. That being said, sometimes getting your heart rate up or using the arm (just not the pec), can result in some extra swelling and achiness in the area. See how you feel after a day or so. If you see any asymmetry that was not there before, new bruising, continued pain, or any other issues get evaluated sooner than later. Hope all is OK.
Thank you for this very informative video. I am currently going thru diagnosing my pec injury and am quite confused. Because I had an ultra sound done and an MRI done. Ultra sound came back looking like I do have a tear but when we did the MRI they told me I have a grade 1 strain. But my concern is I have lost 90% of my strength in my left pec and it is deformed. Its been 11 weeks since the injury now and I am just starting PT. I am not sure if PT will fix my deformed chest or get me back to full strength I am quite confused by the results of the MRI now and am left thinking I won't fully recover.
That is confusing for sure. Ultrasound, while possibly a good study, is influenced by the skill of the person doing the study. MRI is the gold standard for diagnosis so not knowing anything else I would have to believe the MRI. A few other things may influence the results like how long after the injury the study was performed. Have you seen an orthopedic surgeon? I often advise that it takes a minimum of the 3months to feel right after a partial tear/bad strain. Hope this helps.
The arm bar one happened to me except I did not turn I just resisted like doing a heavy chest fly and felt it rip... Only a minor tear luckily.
😬. Glad it was only a minor tear. Best wishes with your recovery and Jiu Jitsu journey.
Thanks for the video, very informative. A couple of years ago I tore my pec major in the muscle tissue (tendon still in tact) so they didn’t operate. I now obviously have a very visible deformity in my pec along with significant strength discrepancies. However along with this, my front deltoid seemed to lose a lot of muscle mass and my bicep seemed to pull inwards towards the chest. I was wondering if you had any advice to fix the biomechanics of the shoulder/ bicep linking to a pec major muscle tear? Just so I can at least try to balance out the look and strength of my shoulders and arms. Thanks
Thank you for sharing your story. Unfortunately, tears within the muscle are a difficult problem to deal with and surgery often does not improve outcomes. It is unlikely that your deltoid and biceps are truly affected (unless there was a more significant injury), but the appearance of that whole region certainly could change without a normal pec major. Also, you could be using the arm differently after the injury that could affect the size and strength of other muscles. I will have to defer specific exercises to physical therapists who could examine you and see what is biomechanically wrong and then see how you respond. I hope this helps
Had full rupture at the tendon-bone interface on the concentric phase (on the way up) in the bench press. No AAS history.
Had changed to full width grip and it took a month with the new grip to get injured. Had surgery 4 weeks post injury because I had to wait for the MRI.
Now at 6 weeks post-op, I'm benching 1 kg DBs and I can lift my arm at around 135°. Hoping to get back to competition in 7 months!
Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you are extremely motivated to get better, which is one of the most important things. Definitely follow your surgeons recommendations. I have often found that there is a subset of the population that you need to make slow down for optimal recovery! Set your goals and make slow and steady progress. Best wishes!
@@CuttotheBone Thanks for the video and sound advice! Yes, there's plenty of examples of people rupturing their pec again because they start too soon pushing ROM or bench press! Be careful and follow the recommendations, better safe than sorry!
@@SweKelt🤙🙏👊
Have you done a video on susbcapularis tears? I was wondering if you could explain what bursal vs articular would be located in that context. For supraspinatus it's easy because subacromial bursa is on top and the articular joint is at bottom but where would be in relation to subscap?
Was also curious that a common surgery done for susbcap tears are pec major transfers. How come something like a allograft reconstruction similar to SCR can't be done?
Great questions.
I have not yet done a video on rotator cuff tears (definitely need to soon).
The description of bursal sided vs articular sided for the subscap is similar to the other rotator cuff tendons (just the orientation is front/back as opposed to top/bottom).
If a subscap tear is acute it is repaired similar to other tendons. Chronic tears are a whole other issue and very difficult to address as a primary repair is not possible. This is where tendon transfers (using a portion of pec major or the latissimus) or allograft reconstructions can be used. The tendon transfers are used as those tendons are already pretty close by and can restore SIMILAR function without sacrificing much from the transferred tendon. Allograft does not sacrifice tissues but takes much longer to incorporate/heal. There is not a perfect solution for this difficult problem.
@@CuttotheBone thanks for the response. So articular would be back/undersurface and bursal would be front/superficial?
@@GoodByeSkyHarborLivecorrect!
This injury happened to me about 3 summers ago. Haven’t got surgery or even it seen. Happened about a week before being told to come back to work after being laid off from a new job back when covid first happened. Went to work dealing with the paid and accustomed myself to use other muscles. Most difficult thing was hiding the injury because of fear of losing my job. I have great insurance and that isn’t the concern nor the actual procedure. Just the time off with the healing process to be as fast as possible because of my mega bills.
Thank you for sharing your story. Unfortunately, economics can play a part in our decisions to seek treatment. Out of curiosity, what would you say your overall function is at this point? What percent are you at approaching 3yrs from your injury? How long did it take you to get there? I am sure others are curious.
@@CuttotheBone I don’t attempt anything that involves right side of my chest because of cramping. Not quite sure how to explain. I mainly adjust my body to not use that part of my chest as much as possible. When I do by accident can’t use much force and then I spend two or three days attempting to massage out the knot on my muscle. About 4 months for pain to go away to even put on a shirt normally and about 5 months to train myself to not use that muscle as best as I could until it became subconsciously. Very difficult because I’m a mechanic but so far so good
@@Johnjohn-rp1mx Well, I am glad you are able to return to your work as a mechanic. I was hoping you were going to say that you had no pain and only minimal strength issues, but everyone is going to be different as they recover from major injuries. Thanks again for sharing.
How is it feeling now?
It’s a been exactly a year after my injury… i didn’t check with a physician. I’ve always had full function but it’s quite prominent some of my sternal head is torn ~
Glad to hear that you have full function!
Thanks for the video, this is a surprisingly difficult injury to find information on out there. I was diagnosed with a junction tear of my pec and was told surgery was not the best option by multiple doctors and now am probably too far removed from the window to get surgery either way. I have slowly started to rehab but the outer wall of the pec is still deformed and the tendon that attaches to the bicep is still visibly tight. It feels like a stretched rubber band that’s hanging on. My question is have you ever seen junction tears that could not be operated on like this? I don’t care about the aesthetic returning I just want to make sure I am able to slowly build back strength or if it will never fully return to 100% for certain movements and the tendon will remain this tight
Great questions. Junctional tears are hard to deal with surgically. I USUALLY treat them without surgery. Your body is going through a healing process which includes inflammation, rebuilding and then remodeling. It will take months before you feel closer to normal and before I would say you are done improving. I can be fairly confident you will regain good function. If we compared strength from side to side you MIGHT be a little weaker, but you may not notice.
It was impossible to find anyone with the identical symptoms I am also dealing with. This is it right here. Feels weird having a rubber band run across into the bicep. It feels very vulnerable.
@@CuttotheBone Question for you doc, how do you normally treat this?
@@Lukegarmon21 how far out are you from your injury?
A tear at the bone-tendon junction or at the tendon will do best with surgery (though I always make it clear that many people can live full lives without a pec major). A tear at the muscle-tendon junction is something that can often be treated without surgery. A tear in the muscle I never treat with surgery.
I have recently ruptured tendon from bone 2 weeks ago playing rugby.mri shows it’s repairable but having difficulty finding competent surgeon.2 more games left this season and I’m considering strapping up and going back at it.
How long until the season is over? The sooner you get it repaired the better. That being said, with a good surgeon, these can be repaired a little further out. Often with high level athletes the needs of the sport/their job are balanced with the need for surgery. The key is finding a surgeon you trust and is on board with a plan.
@@CuttotheBone 2 weeks left.
I understand regarding balance.
I have a very physical job which I’ve continued to do after injury.I have struggled but have managed.
I’m an older guy and have been very active for many years.with my rugby career almost over I’m tossing up to finish the season and retire and progress with other physical activities/sports that don’t have as much impact/collision.I know there is always a risk but provided I strap/secure to avoid over extension I feel I could finish the season.would rather have had immediate surgery but that is out of my hands and don’t want to miss out on both fronts.
@@deano8881 Understood. Hopefully in the coming weeks you can establish care with a surgeon you trust and then do what you feel is best once your season is over. You are not necessarily making the injury worse by using the arm if you already have a full tear, but significant delays to surgery do cause surgery to be more difficult.
Rugby is definitely hard on the body and a transition to "less demanding" sports is inevitable for all of us. Keep in mind the long term goals (work, recreation, family, etc). Best wishes on your recovery.
Hello, can you talk about pec tears at the sternal head? I seem to have had a partial tear and I am looking for treatment, although this was years ago and I'm not sure what my options would be
A tear from the sternum itself ? Or a tear of the sternal head portion of the pec from its attachment at the humerus? Given that it has been years it is unlikely that surgery would be helpful (if it ever was). Physical therapy could be helpful.
I had this injury while trying to stop a fight between family members. I stood sideways with my right arm extended trying to in between, next second after my arm got pushed back and I saw my arm go behind my back still extending and a pop. Full rupture of pectoral major, physical therapy, then surgery, then physical therapy again. It has been over two years, my range of motion is back to 100, but the alignment of my upper body right side is always tight. I can do push ups bet not all the way down because the muscles seems to reach its peak extention earlier than my left side. I am assuming due to having to pull the cut tendon/muscle to reattach it. I can do my usual work outs, the muscle recovery is super painful on the injury side, it feels like a cramp under armpit, or hulk squeezing the right side on my upper body. I have found that using a heat pad to lay on the floor front and back side helps. If my forearms are tight, so is my chest, so I massage from fingers all the way up the chest. Wrist, forearm, biceps triceps shoulder and chest and upper back. This seems to relax everything. It's get better with time, don't give up and don't forget to rest. One day at a time.
Thank you for sharing your story! Sorry you had to go through all of that, but I am sure others will be helped by hearing this.
@Cut to the Bone it's all good. What does not kill us will only make us stronger 💪🏿. Thanks for hearing me out. I hope it does help someone to never give up. 🙂
@@dunnsdiaite8085 I have no doubt others will find it valuable.
Wow im suffering left chest swelling ,sharp pain sometimes for 4 months now due to family fighting and i pick up my brother twice..after the incident 3 days later my left chest all the way to under arms all swelling for 3 months now..hopefully ill go to doctor tomorrow
@@sidrajput3676 I hope you recover well. Hope you can see a doctor soon!
Perhaps a bit of an unusual question, but is the thickness of the pec tendon a strong indicator for the chance of the injury? Because some people seem to do anything and never have rupture, and some had it weaker and more prone to injury
There are likely many factors that contribute to a tear. A lot of these are genetic, but also influenced by behaviors/activities. Testosterone supplementation is an independent risk factor for tendon ruptures. Other structural things that could contribute is the size of the tendon and the “footprint” of its connection to the bone. Muscle strength also contributes. Sometimes it’s just bad luck.
Hey man, I have musculotendious junction tear and I have a surgery date and it’ll be 6 weeks when I do have it but not sure if I should go through with it. Because I would like to but there are many risks and I’m thinking how people do later on life with the surgery area. Mine was from an over extended arm at savage race.
Sorry you are going through that. It is very difficult for me to give direct advice without the proper workup. That being said, in general, I have not been convinced that a 6 week old musculotendinous tear can drastically be improved on with surgery. There may be other surgeons who think differently.
Hey Doc,
I ruptured my pec tendon clean of the arm, with no other damage to the muscle or shoulder areas. The surgeon, who is very good. Said due to my great recovery and full range of motion etc. surgery is optional, and due to my career also.
I chose not too, whilst aware my bench press will never be as good again.
I am exactly a month to the day since Injury and can already shoulder press with barbell over 60kg and complete a full back/shoulder and leg session. I am slowly doing chest exercises etc.
have you heard of many decent recoveries from non surgical options ?.
I see many people who can live very active and full lives without their pec major muscle. As discussed in the video, there will be differences....
Felt a ripping sensation around upper chest on the eccentric of a bench. No bruising and only a slight deformity where there feels like theres a large stone inside my chest. Have not been able to get an MRI but I have full range of motion and can have strength enough to do pushups. Wondering if the healing process is just time and not surgery! 🤞
Eccentric loads are the hardest on our tissues. Sounds like you may have had a small partial tear. MRI would give the most detail. An experienced physical exam is also helpful. If it is just a small partial tear then surgery likely may not be necessary.
So I was bench pressing and it felt like something popped under my armpit. No immediate bruising but a day later it was purple and the swelling and bruising started to recede a week later. I have full ability in my arm and still able to do some push-ups. But what concerns me is there’s a dimple or kinda of a pocket where my shoulder meets my pec kinda of under my arm pit. A definite deformity. And also a tightening almost like a cramp under my armpit when I flex the muscle. My question is by reading that do you think I would need surgery or is it healing on its own? Btw I’m a week and 3 days in at the time of this post.
Sounds like you at least had a bad strain/small tear. It’s very early to truly know what the deformity would look like long term. Even if you had completely torn the tendon, but had full function you do not necessarily need surgery…
It’s probably worth getting checked out sooner than later. If it was just a bad strain/small tear you likely do not need surgery…
@@CuttotheBone thank you 🙏🏼
I have a partial tear on my pec major tendon that connects to my humerus bone approx 2.5cm tear. Is surgery recommended. I have range of motion on my arm just lost lost some strength in it. Would surgery be recommended? Or is a conservative approached better?
Very hard to say exactly without the imaging or examining you. Sometimes partial tears can be managed well without surgery. It depends on what portion of the tendon is torn, if there is retraction, your activity level and goals. For reference, sometimes people can have a complete tear managed without surgery and they are happy (but function and strength are different).
Hi Doc, I just teared my pec yesterday and went to the doctor today. She recommended me to wait 2 weeks for an ultrasound to get a diagnosis due to blood that could be in the way. The waiting time for a surgery is probably another 2/3 weeks after this. Is it really necessary to wait 2 weeks for an ultrasound? Thank you!
To speak in generalities: in situations where surgery may be needed (complete pec tear) I do not agree with waiting for diagnostic studies (especially an ultrasound). Getting plugged in with a surgeon ASAP is important so the process can be started. Surgical planning and imaging (perhaps MRI) can then go in parallel to not delay things.
Is an incline dumbbell/press safer for the pecs than a standard flat press in regards to pec tears?
Great question. I hope that someone else will see this question and be able to provide some insight, but I will try. Clearly, both will stress your pec. To my understanding, the incline will stress the upper pec most (possibly taking stress off other parts of the tendon?), while the flat bench will recruit more of the entire muscle (people are usually ~25% stronger with flat bench than incline). Also to keep in mind, the incline bench has more stretch or increased eccentric load on the muscle possibly straining the muscle more. All of this together, it seems that both have a theoretical risk of injury to the pec. To my knowledge, no specific study has been done assessing injury rates between the 2 lifts. A quick search on youtube will show videos of pec tears happening with both flat and incline bench (and other activities). Hard to say if one of the lifts is "safer". That being said, for optimal conditioning and strength, it seems that the flat bench will work more of the muscle.
I tear my pec at the stenrum portion pretty bad during bench press. Didnt do MRi for a half a year later. Doc said they could go in for repair but he adviced me not to due too the risk of it getting worse. First time after the thear I couldnt do anything with my chest. But progressively its getting better. I still feel it when lifting "heavy" and I know when to stop. Using dumbels around 60% of what I used to before. Havent tried dips yet but eventually hoping to be able to do some dips.
Do you think the injuried part can repair it self? My idea of using lighter weights to build up the part and hopefully the body re modell itsel to what its getting forced to handle.
Hard to say how your overall recovery will be without knowing the details of your tear. I can say that your body will heal, but it may heal in a way that leaves you different. Your chest may look different and you may notice a difference in strength when you isolate the pec (like doing dips), but overall I do think you can get to good overall function. I usually tell people that at 1 year from injury (could be closer to 18months) they will be as healed as they are going to get. Hope this helps.
@@CuttotheBone Thanks for reply. I'm about 11 months since my injury now. Hopefully it gets better. Do you know if BPC 157 could work?
@@kalleivar4899 I hope it continues to improve. To my knowledge, there is no research on humans on the effectiveness (or safety) of BPC 157 for anything let alone helping with a pec tear.
I did this 2 weeks ago, bench pressing.
Weird thing is, I've pressed more weight before a few years ago, when was bigger, but a lot less lean.
I'd had a niggling pain in that shoulder for a few weeks, n was feeling generally sh!tty on the day... Really shouldn't have pushed it, I know better 🤦🏻
Had surgery last week. Hopefully recovery is as fast as possible.
Also, dislocated my other shoulder numerous times (seems ok now, strangely), absolutely destroyed my ACL in my right knee about 10 years ago, but didn't know how badly I'd actually F'd it till last year. Broken, hands, fingers, toes, noses, tennis, and golf elboy in both arms, and I'm only in my 30s ffs 🤕😂
Thanks for the video mate, very much appreciated 👍🏻
It seems you have utilized orthopedic care throughout your life ;). I certainly encourage people to be active. Sorry about your recent need for surgery, but glad to hear you are on your road to recovery. Keep moving. But you may have to reassess how you are moving to avoid more injuries - best wishes!
@@CuttotheBone Thanks mate 🙏🏻
Most of those injuries I listed are from rugby tbf.
I stopped playing a good few years ago now.
When I did my knee, I just freeze sprayed it, came back on n finished the game 🙈
Wasn't till a few hours later my whole leg turned purple, and swelled up like a balloon 🙄😂
You all are tough for sure.
Hey Dr, great video explanation and interesting channel. This was the first video of yours I have watched and definitely going to subscribe!
Anyways, I was bench pressing at high intensities six days ago and as I finished the eccentric portion and had begun the concentric phase, about an inch up I felt the “pop”. Fight or flight kicked in and I finished the rep and racked it. I did not notice any muscle deformity after ward or initial bruising, but it did tense up and was moderately painful. However the next day and half, that was when the bruising appeared on the upper left bicep area. Now, the bruising has went from the width of a tennis ball to half that.
I’m an Olympic weightlifter and I have competition coming this April so I am trying best to approach my rehab the best I can that would position me to still compete, hopefully. I am worried if I don’t get it checked it might be something serious that should have required surgery. The lifts I’m concerned about are the snatch and clean and jerk and the various accessory lifts. I know now not to mess with heavy bench presses. The reason I was acutely overdoing these was because I strained my left quad the week before on heavy squats. So been trying to stay active, but ended up hurting myself more SMH
I am all kinds of messed up right now, but taking my rehab seriously and safely. My question is, should I still be doing overhead movements such as presses, jerks, and snatches during my acute rehab phase, albeit light loads/low volume with slow progression. I feel as if my quad strain is about 65-70% with tightness that builds up with light to moderate load, and for my chest strain I am avoiding all horizontal presses and most overhead work as of now. So far light power snatches and power jerks have only lightly stressed my affected shoulder area feeling tolerable. Power cleans from blocks have felt the best, slowly working my way to the floor.due to the quad strain.
I am hesitant to get it checked out medically because I don’t have l insurance but am saving for it. I’m hoping my pec stain is just localized to the muscle belly and not the tendon and won’t require surgery because it is most likely going to be too late to get it checked out. Is likely it could only be a muscle strain and no or little tendon tear if before my bench press I already felt a tightness in the chest/should muscle junction, and the pop was caused by poor muscle pliability/flexibility? If I continue to rehab myself and not do surgery and not checked medically, will my Olympic let fits greatly suffer from a pec tendon tear that should have been corrected by surgery, since the pecs only play a secondary role in the movements? Any help, advice, or feedback would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story. Sorry you have some injuries. Obviously, it is hard to speak on specifics for you as I do not have an exam or imaging available. Hopefully, it is just a pec strain and not a more serious tear. Obviously, it would be ideal to see a specialist, but I understand your situation.
The pec major is mainly a muscle that works below shoulder height and works to bring the arm down and in. Going above head would stretch the pec, but not ask it to fire much. Holding something above head is also not going to ask a lot of your pec. Many olympic lifts do not ask a lot of the pec compared to other large muscles.
Your story is a good example of how trying to work through injuries can cause a snowball effect were other injuries start popping up while trying to compensate. Rehab and rest will be important. Maintaining strength through range of motion is important. I understand you want to compete in April and all I can say from a distance is be careful. Hopefully, this is helpful. Best wishes.
Can you get insurance and get it looked at? Personally I would not want to live with a detached pec the rest of my life.
I was recommended to wear a sully brace by my ortho surgeon I was wondering how good it works? I wasn’t able to get surgery but when it happened I still had majority of range of motion just bruising and moderate pain
The Sully brace may help with some of the initial symptoms after injury. It is not going to fix or compensate for a pec tear. That being said many people, do just fine without the surgery (full range of motion, full function). Hope this helps.
@@CuttotheBone yes it does, have football season coming up next month was just praying the brace could help somewhat I hurt my pec (partially tore) back in early November
@@raphaelturner1963 with proper rehab a partial tear should be good to go at 3 months from injury
I was db pressing and I felt a tear slight one mid belly oec! Stoooed Tried going lighter light pain but I stopped
No bruising but of pain 3 on a 1-10 scale does this mean I torn a Pec ?
No bruising but deff pain and if I try to press now with no weight slight pain
Well, sorry about your injury. Sounds like you “tore” something, but that does not mean it is a complete tear. What you describe could fall more in line with a “strain” - a partial tear. This also takes some time to heal. Obviously it is always to be examined by a professional.
@@CuttotheBone I appreciate ur reply . Today is the next day . The pain is on a scale of 1-10 a 1 lol but still I don’t want to risk it applying some gell
And while avoid benching for two weeks I guess . It’s a statin yes but just wanna let it recover and not aggravate it
I appreciate ur reply
@@Semaj.18272 sounds like you are moving in the right direction. Time for recovery is important.
Hello. My ortho told me that he can’t fix my pec tear because I tore it in a part that’s not fixable. “Full thickness myotendinous rupture of the left pect major with regional interstitial fluid/ hermatoma and muscle edema. Should I seek a 2nd opinion. He compared it to sowing two pieces of meat together
Great question. Tears within the myotendinous junction are a problem. Sewing muscle is difficult as the tissues more easily slip and tear away. The tissue just does not hold sutures well. Any muscle movement can cause the suture to tear through the tissues. You could get a second opinion but it is a difficult problem to fix surgically. Fortunately, many patients can do well functionally with non-operative management.
Thank you for the reply. So I’ve actually seen 2 Orthos. The first ortho I saw told me he could fix it by using a graph to attach the attracted muscle to and reconnect. I’m not able to use that ortho anymore because my insurance told me he is not on the workers comp panel. Is this Dr correct in regard to using an allograft to fix the tear? And is this a new way of fixing this year that some orthos don’t know about?
@@chrisedwards9064 Worker's comp can be very frustrating to navigate. There are many ways to try to repair things. If things are chronic than an allograft may be necessary. That being said, the same difficulties arise when trying to repair things to muscle - muscle is hard to securely grab with sutures whether you are repairing it to the normal tendon or an allograft. You will have to weigh your priorities, expected outcomes, and surgeon recommendations. Using an allograft takes a much longer time to recover from, but can be done. There are no "secret" or new techniques that are out there, but there are different ideas and experience levels of surgeons. I wish I could be of more help, but things are limited in this type of interaction.
Hey so recently i strained my pec muscle doing bench press i was pushing my self for a new pr. Been about a month now and i can move my arm totally freely. But theres 2 issues i notice when i dig into my pec with my other hand i feel a hard rocky muscle that i dont have on the other side is this scar tissue is this normal? and does it go away with time. Also i notice when i workout lightly i dont really feel a pump on the injuried side it kinda just feels like its carrying the weight my other pec becomes pumped instantly.
Good questions. Obviously I am very limited in what I can say without an exam or other information, but can speak in generalities. It sounds like you had a strain of some sort. The does involve some partial tearing of tissues which then heals with a scar. The scar will then remodel over time (sometimes up to a year), but my point is that what you feel now will likely dissipate with time. The fact that things “feel” different at 1mo from injury is not a surprise. Your body is still going through a healing process that will take 2 months or so. Hope this helps.
@@CuttotheBone the strain is in the middle on the clavicular head on my pec and the middle has a line connection from my sternum to the left side that’s kinda a bump that I put my fingers over and it’s hard like a tendon. Also when I flex my pec don’t really notice a difference in appearance between the two but when I bring my arm forward and toward my body. I press in and feel that the tendon on the left side kinda has a slight gap in it which I don’t really have on the other side is that normal?
@@CuttotheBone maybe this is a hematoma? Is that a possibility if that’s the case that can explain me not feeling my pec contract much right?
@@craftyplayz3065 Hematoma would be the 1st part of an injury. When tissues are injured there is bleeding. There is then a complex inflammatory process which involves increased blood flow, swelling, etc. Injured tissues are then cleared away and a repair process begins. Hematomas, depending on the size, can take weeks to clear. A scar is formed. After weeks to months a remodeling process starts. Things will feel different while this process goes on. In the end, there will be a remodeled scar that you may always feel.
@@craftyplayz3065 Really hard to say what is going on. You injured your pec. If there are concerns you should have it examined by a specialist. Best wishes.
Hey, I had a pectoralis major rupture off the humerus around 4 months ago and had surgery the night after it happened. The side of the pec (close to the shoulder) is currently extremely hard compared to the other pec and when I flex the pec downwards, it bunches up towards the inside. My doctor told me that this was expected without the surgery however it is still happening after the surgery. Wondering if this will return to normal over time or if there is a problem. Thanks!
Really hard to say. Often there is scarring after injuries that will be firm for a period of time. There is a chance that surgery did not go 100%. Scars complete their remodeling 1year after the surgery. I would have to defer to your surgeon on how things are going.
@@CuttotheBone My doctor just told me that he didn't pull the pec muscle as far as he could've towards the shoulder during the injury (apologies if this doesn't make sense, just explaining it how I understood it). Physio says that when I start using the pec and stretching it more doing physical activities that it will slowly stretch back into place and that muscle atrophy has made it look a bit off. He says that it should be symmetrical after a while.
@@Brumba555 I believe that makes sense. Certainly, I would not make any major determinations on your recovery so early in the process.
@@Brumba555Hey bro. That’s interesting. Did he say why he didn’t pull it all the way back to the shoulder ? Hopes all is well!
Doctor, I had this injury playing football with my cousins. I took a blow to my upper arm from an elbow during a tackle. It started spasms and bruised my bicep a couple days later. I dont have insurance and was wondering how much an MRI would run me and surgery if needed. Thanks!
I’m sorry that you have had an injury. To answer your question about the MRI: it varies from location to location but it would seem that costs often are ~$500 here in San Diego without insurance. It may be worthwhile to be evaluated by a specialist who can determine if it’s even necessary. The evaluation will cost money as well, but at least will guide you in decision making and the next steps. Best wishes.
That seems surprisingly fair! But I'm pretty sure I'm going to need the procedure. It's ugly! Thanks doc
@@zacharyhudson5330best wishes! Just keep in mind that surgery will cost quite a bit as well…
Just suffered a pec tear. Can't get an mri until next week since insurance hasn't kicked in yet. Thanks for the information.
Sorry to hear. Definitely get plugged in with an orthopedic surgeon - hopefully right after your MRI is done. Best wishes on the healing!
Did you get surgery bro?
@@MichaelJerkson I did not. Mri was worrisome for complete tear. I've accepted the injury and have finally moved forward. Rehabed and now pushing around 60 lbs on injured side. Can do around 25 push ups. Though, despite what the MRI said, I don't actually think it's all the way gone. I feel that its still ever so slightly tethered to my humerus. I'm now focusing on the hundreds of other muscles my body has 😁
@@travi7005 oh ok ya considering i had to literally pick up my right arm with my left arm while lying in bed for 2 weeks before my surgery I didn’t think that regaining that strength would be possibility.. Im glad you are managing well without it. If it was not a complete tear thats good… your body will likely find a way to regenerate that pectoral connection.
@@MichaelJerkson yeah the beginning was rough! I can't remember how long my intense pain and weakness lasted, but I also had to use my other arm to move the injured one. Hope you heal well! Cheers brother
I’m gettting surgery April 15 th 2024 I’m Lowkey shitting myself and not ready to be weak as shit for the next 6 months everything I worked so hard to do is gonna be gone 😓
Injuries are frustrating, but I have no doubt you will rebuild. You’ll get back to everything you were doing before. See the 6 months as an opportunity to build yourself in a new way.
Dr would you recommend surgery for a partial tear of the pec tendon from humerus bone (musculotendinous junction)
First, the musculotendinous junction is different than the tendon-bone connection (at the humerus) and that difference does matter when discussing repair (it is easier to fix tendon to bone than to muscle). It also matters how old the injury is. It also matters how big the partial tear is.
@@CuttotheBone the tear is about 2.5cm from tendon to bone. Would surgery be recommended it’s about 4 months old now?
@@Jr-kq8em I think you are saying that the tendon has retracted about 2.5cm from the bone(?) How is your function? Do you have much pain or weakness? At 4 months it makes the surgery much more difficult and if you are doing well, then you may not need it. If the tear was at the musculotendinous junction at 4 months I would say that there is not much that can be done.
@@CuttotheBone the tear was from the tendon-bone connection (not musculotendinous junction). It’s affected my activity level. I get active and my shoulder and back shoulder blade begin to flare up causing much discomfort in my upper back. My pec has slightly dropped. At times my pec hurts as if I’m having a small cramp but I have full range of motion. My arm at times gets a tingly sensation specially when I try and sleep. My specialist told me there was a 70% chance it can heal but at this point I feel it’s compromised my activity level. I’ve been doing physical therapy but just doesn’t seem to be helping with the healing process. Would surgery be my best option?
@@Jr-kq8emwell, I cannot give true medical advice in this venue. To speak in generalities - some people can do very well with a pec tear treated non-operatively. Some cannot. It sounds like you are still bothered significantly. At 4 months it is much more difficult to repair. I would have a long discussion with a specialist about what they can do for you and what you can expect.
I have been diagnosed with a complete tear at the musculotendinous junction. Surgeon says it’s repairable but due to life obligations and other factors it will be approx. 3 months post injury until I can get the surgery. Can good results still be achieved?
I would say for a musculotendinous tear the benefits of surgery at 3months would be negligible. That being said tears in this region can be treated without surgery sometimes.
@@CuttotheBone Thanks very much for responding. To add a little more detail I’m 43 years old, 1.5 months post tear. I can train as I did before minus pressing which is about strength 40% of what it was before. I have no pain and full shoulder ROM. My main concern is the deformity in the future. Right now it is not noticeable unless flexed. I’m worried it will be more prevalent.
@@pwh7925 it sounds like you are improving well. You are not done improving. There will still be some improvement in strength as you go forward.
You may notice a deformity even with surgery. You would certainly have a scar. Also, the deformity you have now is not the deformity you will have in 3 or 6 months. Things will remodel.
Research has shown that good results can be achieved without surgery. You will likely always know that this injury occurred but you will have good function.
@@CuttotheBone thank you for this information. It’s very reassuring and is much appreciated!
I had surgery 1week ago to repair a complete rupture whilst at work That occured 6weeks prior (NHS 🙄).
I used to bench press reasonably heavy - 150kg but haven't done so for a very long time.
Am keeping it a sling however am completely paranoid that every little twinge I feel in my shoulder/chest/arm means bad news and that I'm somehow going to pull the sutures out in my sleep.
please tell me I'm overreacting to everything.
I look forward to beginning physio to start getting back to normal (kettlebells, motorcycles, walking dogs, kids etc).
It is normal to be a little paranoid about messing things up. No doubt you do not want to go through this again. I rather have patients worried about messing things up than over doing it (at least initially). Chances are you have a stout repair that can handle the slight movements that are inevitable. Just be careful. Follow your surgeons recommendations. You will get back to things soon enough.
How’s your recovery going? I’m 2 months post op.
@@MichaelJerkson . I'm back on normal duties at work though a little cautious still. Have done a little kettlebell training and back on my motorbike. I get a bit of pain sometimes at work though usually at night or in the morning when I've slept on it. It has knocked my confidence though. From being fit and strong, I've generally lost a lot of muscle tone and am struggling to motivate myself to eat well and train and am feeling quite weak. My work can at times be shall we say combative and I'm suffering a bit of anxiety from that in case I get injured again or can't perform and let my team down.
@@richardbrooker8522 oh ok. Well it’s way to early still. You’re only half way through recovery at this point it would seem.
Man I had surgery 2 weeks ago and currently going through the exact same thing. Every slight movement or tug I get super paranoid. Even with a deep yawn I feel a twitch that freaks me out. How soon did you start going back to the gym to do legs?
I tore my right pec back in 2012 doing heavy bench. Failed repair two months later. Successful repair in late 2013. It sucked.
Sorry you had to go through that. Great to hear that it has been doing ok since. Definitely not fun at the time I’m sure. Thanks for sharing.
@CuttotheBone It was not fun. It happened at a time when I was a starving student with no insurance. I ended up finding a local charity to cover it, but the surgeon they found didn't really have experience with pec tears. Fast forward a year and I was at a different university with health insurance so I had Dr Stiebel in West Palm Beach FL fix me with an allograft. He did his residency and fellowship under Dr Schepsis who to my understanding pioneered the procedure. It worked. But was an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone.
I got back into lifting, set multiple state records. I'm currently sidelined recovering from a distal bicep repair.
@@bumoffhtestreet wow. Going through 2 surgeries including 1 with an allograft and still getting to be a high level lifter is quite the accomplishment.
Very sorry you are dealing with another injury. I’m sure you saw my take on the distal biceps, but incase you haven’t: Distal Biceps Ruptures and why they happen in combat sports (and how we fix them)
czcams.com/video/sjDjZYyWoYk/video.html
@CuttotheBone i will watch it. My distal bicep tear wasnt from training. It was from me being drunk and picking up a slate billiards table with one hand, bending at the elbow, and repeatedly bouncing it to shake the balls loose. Utter stupidity. And due to insurance coverage, the repair was 2.5 months after the injury which meant they had to use an allograft because my native tissue was too far gone...
@@bumoffhtestreet yikes. You are well versed in allograft reconstruction of major tendons at this point. It sounds like you will recover well based on prior history. Best wishes.
Shouldn't we go all the way down to our chests in the bench press if we want to make our bodies stronger in a large range of motion?
I bench with a narrow grip and with an appropriate progression to avoid tearing my pec, I thought it was enough
To maximize stretch and eccentric load on bench press, coming down to the chest is effective and theoretically recruits more motor units = more strength. However, this theoretically increases the more risky parts of the exercise.
Another thing that comes up is that some people use their chest to “bounce” the bar - this obviously could be risky.
Some people believe that taking the bar down to a point where the elbows and shoulders are at the same height is enough to get strength and reduce risk of injury. For some people this gets the bar down to the chest. For people like me it does not touch my chest….
@@CuttotheBone Thank you for the answer. I agree that bouncing off the chest is risky, you lose tension and scapular control as well. I always pause at the chest, now I'm wondering if I should get that deep at all. I'm slowly working my way up in weight to hopefully have my tendons and ligaments conditioned to the heavier loads...
@@kainicknameit is an interesting debate that I do not know if there is an absolute correct answer. I am a proponent of strength through range of motion. It is also important to note that it is impossible to remove all injury risk. I agree with gradual progression of strengthening (do not let your ego open you up to more risk!). It also depends on goals (functional strength v better bench press v something else). A good option is to experiment and see what you like, feels good, and helps you achieve your goals. Best wishes.
@@CuttotheBone Thank you very much for your work :) best wishes.
I’m a week post op on a pec repair. I keep fearing that I’ve retorn it from little accidental tweaks of pec activation. What do you think? I’ve had no increase if pain or swelling
It’s normal to have some anxiety about messing things up. If you are following your post-op instructions then you should be alright. Our repairs should be able to handle little “tugs” initially. Don’t push it. Give it time to heal.
@@CuttotheBone thanks for the reply! I have an appointment with my surgeon this coming Wednesday and I’m sure he’ll be able to let me know how things are going.
@@Oktobrios18 definitely important to have good follow up. Glad you’ll be seeing your surgeon soon
How’s your recovery going? I’m 2 months post op now.
@@MichaelJerkson it’s going okay man! It is definitely a long haul. The reality is you have a 100% recovery 12-18 months after surgery, And you have to be careful for a long time. I’m really close to doing real push ups and I can dumbbell press 35 pounds
Awesome vid Doctor! I tore mine the EXACT same way. Hitchhiker arm bar escape.
I am 2 months post Op. I had a complete rupture of the sternal head and partial tear of the clavicular head. Luckily had plenty of tendon to reattach. Dr Yalamanchili in Loma Linda did a great job and he was really nice. PT is going good. Mobility is good. They said from day 1 my healing was going faster than normal. This week we started weight bearing exercises. Felt amazing to finally get a pump in my arms and chest. They said do 20 reps and I did 60 lol.
So my question is how common are reoccurrences ? I just dont want to be afraid when I finally start rolling 100% again. Will my tendon be 100% healed eventually? Will there always be weakness? Maybe you can do a video on the right way and wrong way of the hitchhiker escape lol.
I am sorry you had the injury, but I am glad that you are recovering well. The hitchhiker escape is a good one, but I prefer other ones to get out of the arm bar ;). Once you are cleared by the doctor your chances of rerupture are very small. The goal is to return to full function. Your strength should be pretty close to what it was beforre, but I always tell patients, especially if they are really in tune with their bodies, that they may always notice a little difference from side to side. Best wishes in your ongoing recovery - be patient!
@@CuttotheBone that’s good to hear. Thank you for your advice. I’m taking this time to develop all my functional muscles and tendons and build my legs. I’m following the PJF durability code program with Paul Fabritz. This injury may have been a blessing in disguise bc I am going to come back a better athlete all around.
@@MichaelJerkson I think that is a great outlook. See the set back as an opportunity. There is a great chance you will come back better than before!
@@CuttotheBoneHi Doctor. Pretty excited today. Today I am 4 months post op and I was feeling optimistic so I decided I would go for full rom push ups for the first time. I literally had no issues. I ended up doing 40 no problem. I was pretty shocked I was able to do 1 push-up with no pain let alone 40. In your opinion is that pretty expected or do you think I’m more advanced in my healing?
@@MichaelJerkson Assuming you got the go ahead from your surgeon that is great news! I usually advise slowly easing into things to slowly build up strength. I am impressed by your ability to rip off 40 pushups, but realize that not only is your pec major recovering but all of the muscles around your shoulder are having to make adjustments. Do the PT. Make slow progress. Sounds like you are well on your way! Thanks for the update.
This one was from rock climbing. My Combat Sports were in NHB and a wired jaw in 2000...😂
You are an OG doing NHB in 2000!
Can you get surgery for a Partial pec tear? Is it worth it?
Sometimes partial tears are repaired. Depends on the severity of the partial tear and the patient’s goals.
@@CuttotheBone I had a partial tear a couple years ago and it tore at the mytendinous junction and there is a slight indent when I flex. I got lucky I think but was eondering if even possible to fix.
@@mikey5848 For a partial tear at the myotendinous junction I usually recommend non-operative management. I do not think that function outcomes are improved by surgery in this particular case. It is definitely not worth trying to fix at this point. Thanks for your question.
Thank you doctor. Great info here. Maybe you could bring on some expert physiotherapist or athletic trainers in your network and have a group discussion on treatment and return to sport protocols that have been useful for their clients. Because 99 percent of physiotherapist and chiropractors are charlatans and passively collect insurance remittances by attaching they patients to muscle stimulation machines. IMO.
I do hope to expand what I do and bring in some experts in other fields. Thank you for watching and your suggestions!