Physical therapy for distal biceps tendon repair

Immediately after surgery

  1. Wear a sling
  2. No brace is necessary
  3. Follow up with Dr Qeli for the initial wound check within 1-3 days after surgery
  4. Call with any problems. Pain usually peaks on day 2 after surgery, and it should be getting better each day after that.

Weeks 1 - 2

  1. Continue wearing sling, especially outside one's home. In addition to the comfort and safe position that it provides, the sling warns other people that there is something wrong with your elbow.
  2. Extension allowed with forearm in neutral or supination, up to 40 degrees short of full extension.
  3. Flexion must be passive only, for instance by using the opposite hand.
  4. Active pronation allowed as well
  5. Supination must be passive only, for instance by using the opposite hand.
  6. Hand and shoulder ROM / flexibility as needed

Weeks 3 - 6

  1. Continue wearing sling, especially outside home.
  2. Extension allowed, active and passive, forearm in pronation or supination, to tolerance, aiming for full extension.
  3. Flexion passive only
  4. Pronation allowed, active or passive, to tolerance
  5. Supination passive only.
  6. Hand and shoulder ROM / flexibility as needed

Weeks 7 - 12

  1. Active assisted flexion and supination allowed.
  2. May use arm for feeding, etc.
  3. No lifting.

Weeks 13 - 24

  1. Active motion allowed without weights initially.
  2. May use arm for feeding, etc.
  3. May begin strengthening.
  4. Return to heavy labor after 6 months.