Three Easy Stretches to Avoid Bicep Injury

Over the past 12 months, we have experienced three severe bicep injuries to Danos employees, all of which have occurred from different actions.

1. Moving a heavy object
2. Grabbing onto a sight glass after losing footing
3. Slipping and landing awkwardly

Though these injuries could have been avoided if the action did not take place, they could have been minimized if the body was physically prepared for everyday work tasks.

Injury prevention is key to performance and maintaining health.

We need to take correct measures to avoid the incidents mentioned above. The biceps are not the major flexor of the elbow; rather, the bicep is primarily used to turn our palms up (supination).

Here are three easy ways to limit the risk of bicep injuries:

1. Stretch!
2. Lift weights with care – Use reasonable weights with slow, controlled, elbow flexion.
3. Do not smoke – Tendons already have minimal blood flow, so decreasing the blood flow through smoking further will leave a greater chance for injury and increase the recovery process.

Pictured above are a few stretches that can be performed before every workday or task to prepare the bicep for performance and help prevent injury.