Bicep

The bicep is a two-headed muscle at the front of your upper arm that bends the elbow and rotates the forearm, and it also plays a supporting role in shoulder stability.

Where your bicep is and what it actually does

Your bicep runs along the front of your upper arm, from two attachment points near the top of your shoulder down to just below your elbow. Most people associate it with elbow flexion — the curling motion of lifting something — but the bicep also helps rotate your forearm so your palm faces up, and it contributes to shoulder stability in ways that often go unnoticed until something goes wrong.

Because the bicep attaches at the shoulder, problems there — including tendon irritation or tears — can cause pain that feels more like a shoulder issue than an arm one. Weakness or discomfort that runs from the front of your shoulder down into your upper arm is often bicep-related, even when it doesn't feel that way at first.

How Sword Health can help

Whether you're dealing with bicep tendon irritation, weakness after injury, or arm pain that hasn't responded to rest, a physical therapist can help identify what's actually driving the problem and build a plan to address it. Sword connects you with that expertise from home, without the wait.